|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
From: Chester B. Muroski, President Judge on behalf of all members
of the 11th Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas of
Luzerne County BI, Inc., a private company which currently runs the electronic monitoring program in Luzerne county made a presentation to the judges regarding the Day Reporting Program which is now in effect in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. BI indicated that Franklin County experienced some of the problems we are facing in our county, such as prison overcrowding. BI staff noted that Franklin County experienced $10 million dollars in saving in the building of a prison because of the Day Reporting Program and annual savings of $3.2 million are achieved because of a smaller jail. BI indicated the program helps to reduce recidivism because of daily monitoring and 60% of the participants successfully complete the program. Acting Court Administrator Jack Mulroy, Luzerne County Correctional Facility Warden Joseph Piazza and Acting Director of Probation Services Michael Vecchio were present at the meeting and told the judges the program is feasible for Luzerne County. After the meeting with BI, the judges were favorably disposed to implementation of the program but noted a bidding process would have to be followed before entering into a contract with a provider of those services. LUZERNE COUNTY REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY- RENEWAL OF PARKING CONTRACT The judges authorized the President Judge to renew the contract with the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority for parking for functions at Penn Place. LUZERNE COUNTY BENCH TRIALS The judges authorized the entry of an Order scheduling a General
Call of the Trial List for bench trial cases requiring judicial reassignment.
On July 22, 2009 at 9:30 a.m., the Court will conduct a mandatory call
of the list for 48 civil and equity cases, followed by a random judicial
assignment to a judge, who shall immediately conduct a pre-trial conference. Judge Olszewski gave a report on the present status of DUI services. Previously those services were provided by the Luzerne County Probation Office. Because of the issue of the propriety of those services being provided by a county agency associated with the court it was decided previously by the court to have an outside agency perform those services. Recently proposals were sought and Catholic Social Services was the only applicant. The court, with Judge Mundy abstaining in the discussion and vote, would recommend awarding a contract for those services to Catholic Social Services. The judges made particular note of the fact that profit should not be the goal from the court’s viewpoint but the rights of the accused should be protected and any appearance of a conflict avoided. It was noted in the discussion that the rate charged offenders was higher by the county agency that that proposed by Catholic Social Services and that the fees are paid by the offenders.
The President Judge advised the Court that the Pennsylvania
Board of Probation and Parole submitted an invoice to the Pennsylvania
Controller in the amount of $237,175.21 representing Offender Supervision
remittances received by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue for the
six month period from November 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009. The funds, expected
to be received in the near future, will be forwarded to the Commissioners
for deposit in the General Fund. |
Luzerne
County Courts 
