ADULT PROBATION/PAROLE
DEPARTMENT
Staff
Chief Adult Probation/Parole Officer: Ronald S. Kokinda
Deputy Chief Adult Probation/Parole Officer: Joseph J. Berke
Adult Probation/Parole Officer II/Gagnon I Hearing Officer: Tammy Hicks
Adult Probation/Parole Officer II: Joseph Bettine
Adult Probation/Parole Officer II: Matthew Kimmel
Adult Probation/Parole Officer II: Clifford Eckhart
Adult Probation/Parole Officer II: Jillian Leslie
Adult Probation/Parole Officer I: Kimberly Cooper
Adult Probation Technician I: Cheryl Salay
Adult Probation Clerk: Michelle Hamm
Phone: 570-325-4226
Emergency Phone: 570-325-9123
Fax: 570-325-4250
Business Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday
Ronald S. Kokinda and a staff of seven probation officers provide community supervision of all criminal offenders placed under the jurisdiction of the department by the court.
The primary mission of the department is to
maintain public safety and protection through the active supervision, control
and surveillance of the offender. Secondarily, the department strives to
reintegrate the offender into society without further criminal behavior.
In 2002, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and
Parole conducted an audit on agency policies and practices in accordance with
277 standards promulgated by the American Correctional Association. As a
result, the department attained a 99.3% compliance rating.
Agency
Programs
Intensive Drug/Alcohol Program: On
November 13, 1989, the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole announced
that
Intermediate Punishment Programs:
In March 1992, the department was awarded a grant from the Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency to develop intermediate punishment
programs. These programs, which include house arrest, home electronic
monitoring, intensive supervision and residential inpatient treatment, are
designed as an alternative to imprisonment and provide sentencing alternatives
for the court. Second-time DUI offenders and low risk, non-violent offenders
are targeted for these programs. These sentencing alternatives provides a cost
effective approach in the delivery of community correction services and
promotes offender accountability through stricter sanctions, education,
treatment and counseling.
Pretrial Services Project:
On December 5, 1995, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
awarded the department a grant from the Drug Control and System Improvement
Program to develop a program to supervise offenders placed on bail release. The
court developed standard conditions of bail and all offenders who post bond are
referred for supervision. Additionally, the officer is responsible for
completing a bail report on all offenders incarcerated in lieu of bail. This
report is provided to the Magistrate so that a better-informed bail decision
can be made using the information contained in the report.
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD)
Program: This program, which is sponsored by the
District Attorney’s Office, is only available to defendants recommended by the District
Attorney. The adult probation department supervises all defendants placed in
this program. This program is designed to divert first-time DUI offenders or
minor offense defendants from having a criminal conviction, which allows for
the dismissal of criminal charges and the expungement of their record.
Video Conferencing:
In 1999, the department received a grant from the
Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for the installation of video
conferencing equipment. Equipment was installed in the Adult Probation Office,
District Attorney’s Office, the Prison and Courthouse conference room. The
probation department uses this equipment to conduct Gagnon I Hearings, bail
report interviews and presentence interviews. The court utilizes this equipment
for parole hearings, Gagnon II Hearings and other court related matters.
Bulletproof Vests
In
November 2001, the adult probation office purchased nine bulletproof vests.
These vests replaced older models that were out-dated and cumbersome to wear.
The department purchased these vests through the Bulletproof Vest Grant Acts of
1998 and 2000, which funds are administered by the United States Department of
Justice. Any vests purchased after March 1, 1999, that meets applicable
National Institute of Justice standards is eligible for funding, using an
electronic, Internet-based application and payment request process. The entire
process of obtaining federal funds is completed through the web site.
This
act provides funding priority for jurisdictions with populations under 100,000.
Based upon the availability of funds, the department can receive up to 50% of
requested funds in approved applications.
The
department submitted an application in the amount of $4,768.20. On May 16,
2001, the grant application was approved in the amount of $1,668.69, which is a
funding level of 35%. Once the vests were ordered and received, the Bureau of
Justice Assistance electronically transferred from the United States Treasury,
Finally,
when the department received their new vests, the old vests were provided to
the juvenile probation office and sheriff’s department.
After-Hours Supervision:
In 2002, the department developed an after-hours supervision schedule. Field
staff now conducts unannounced field visits to offender’s homes in the evening
and weekend. Since many violations of release occur after normal business
hours, the department designed this supervision strategy to provide better
safety and protection for the community and to provide better enforcement of
the conditions of release imposed by the court. Typically, offenders placed on
home electronic monitoring will be contacted with more frequency and offenders
difficult to see during normal business hours will be contacted with more
frequency. Also, field staff will be collecting more urine samples from
offenders. Finally, the department, in conjunction with local law enforcement
officials, will conduct bar raids at local establishments.