HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES
By:
Roberta L. Brewster, District Court Administrator
As most of you are aware, the Court installed a Health and Safety suggestion box near the front door of the Courthouse. Here are the issues that have been submitted:
1. The crosswalk needs to be painted that crosses Route 209 located between the front of the Courthouse Annex and the parking lot. Solution – This item has been turned over to the County Administrator. It is a state road and he is working on getting the crosswalk repainted.
2. Remind smokers that they should only smoke in designated areas. Solution – The Court and County maintain a smoking policy, which designates certain areas for smoking and provides for discipline for failure to comply. If someone sees a court/county employee smoking in non-designated areas, they can report the incident to the person’s immediate supervisor who has the authority to rectify the situation. Unfortunately, when it comes to the general public, there is nothing the county or court can do.
3. Tourist had trouble crossing Route 209 from the parking lot. Solution – same as solution in number 1 above. Palmerton has pedestrian crossing signs on Delaware Avenue and all vehicles yield to people crossing the street. Maybe, Jim Thorpe Borough could consider this.
4. Layout to Jury Selection Commission Office is safety hazard because it has no escape door. Solution – Code does not require offices to have more than one door. Buildings must have more than one. Unfortunately, in an old building such as the Courthouse, there are many offices that have only one entrance and exit. If the County ever constructs a new building, I am sure this would be rectified.
On May 15, 1928, Governor Fisher appointed William
G. Thomas to fill the vacancy left by the death of the Honorable Laird
Barber. This appointment was a
surprise to the county for William G. Thomas was not considered a
candidate for the vacancy. After the Honorable William G. Thomas took the bench
in 1928, criminal cases were disposed of in the usual manner. Offenders that received suspended
sentences or sentences of probation were placed under the custody of a
respectable citizen in the community.
This citizen was responsible for a monthly report to the judge on
the offender’s progress. In 1929, the jurist was re-elected and began his
crusade to establish a probation department. Judge Thomas declared war on dens of vice, such as
poolrooms, cigar rooms and bawdy houses, which he considered were breeding
grounds for crime and corruption.
In an article in the Mauch Chunk Times News, titled “Judge Thomas
on Crime and Criminals” the jurist said that “criminals, idiots, cripples,
misfits and crazy persons are usually found to be offsprings of parents who
contracted diseases through inadvertence and indiscretion in bawdy houses
and who believed themselves to be cured although the germs remained in
their systems.” Judge Thomas had
organized a number of public gatherings addressing the increase in crime and
those young girls and boys were entering the system needlessly. The Judge was laying the groundwork for
the establishment of a probation agency.
Department Spotlight
ADULT
PROBATION/PAROLE DEPARTMENT
Part One: History of the
Department
By: Ronald S. Kokinda,
Chief
Adult Probation/Parole Officer
The
community was very supportive of Judge Thomas and welcomed any new
concepts or ideas that he wanted to implement. The community accepted the Judge’s idea to create a
probation office. Shortly after
the public meeting, the jurist recruited and appointed the County’s first
probation officer, Blanton Brown.
The department was officially established on February 10, 1930. Mr. Brown
was highly recommended by E.M. Hackney and was a graduate from the Wharton
School of Philadelphia, class of 1925, with a degree of Bachelor of
Science of Economics and was near to receiving his Master’s Degree of
Master of Arts and Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania. His salary was established at $150.00
per month. After the
creation of the department, Mr. Brown was responsible for all
investigations to the Court, which included non-support and desertion
cases, supervision of all adult and juveniles offenders and the collection
of all Court imposed costs, which included fines, restitution and
non-support. Mr. Brown only served
in this capacity for four months before submitting his resignation to
secure a professorship at Berkeley, California. Cheslie
Arthur Gall succeeded Blanton Brown.
Mr. Gall had fourteen years experience in the executive capacity
with the United States Government in social work with experience and
training in psycho-sociological case studies. Mr. Gall was well versed in domestic relation problems and
modern theories of crime prevention, adept in practical and enlightened
treatment of juvenile cases of neglect, dependency, incorrigibility and
child delinquency. Again, his
salary was affixed at $150 per month.
Throughout his tenure, Mr. Gall was widely accepted by the community
and addressed many public meetings. making the office
very humane and a highly essential branch of the court, justifying its
adoption. The following statistics
were reported for the year 1930. There were thirty-three
juveniles before the court: nineteen delinquent boys and one delinquent
girl, three incorrigible boys and two incorrigible girls and eight
neglected boys. Juveniles placed
on probation were twelve delinquent boys and one delinquent girl; one
incorrigible boy; and six neglected boys.
Placements included five delinquent boys, one incorrigible boy and
one girl to Glen Mills Schools; one incorrigible girl to St. Francis Home
and one delinquent boy, one incorrigible boy and two neglected boys to
Philadelphia Protectory for Boys.
As of December 31, 1930, there were twenty juveniles under
supervision. As of
December 31, 1930, there were nine adult probationers, four parolees and
one probation violator. Collection
of costs was $90.00 in fines, $90.26 in costs and $97.95 in restitution. An annual report was submitted to the
court at the end of every year. In 1937,
the department expanded when Judge Thomas appointed Sarah Hagerty as an
assistant to Mr. Gall at a salary of $90.00 per month. Finally,
in 1939, Judge Thomas retired and Judge James McCready was elected. Judge McCready did not reappoint
Cheslie Gall. He appointed
Lawrence Campbell. The
concept of the Probation Office in Carbon County was very idealistic, in
that, the objective of the department was to intercede into the family
unit and attempt to preserve the unit from destruction. The probation officer primarily became
a “defender of the family unit” or “morality officer”, with a majority of his time devoted to
domestic relation matters.
SAVE A SHEPHERD RESCUE ALLIANCE THANKS YOU
By Linda Kitchen
Adult Probation Breathalyzer
By Ronald S. Kokinda, Chief Adult
Probation/Parole Officer
On April 1, 2003, the Court of Common Pleas began using an alcohol breath-testing device on defendants scheduled for criminal court and who are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Any defendant who registers a BAC of .05 or greater will be held in contempt and remanded to prison.
The testing of suspected intoxicated defendants would apply to all criminal court proceedings and adult probation activities. The Court plans to expand this procedure to other Court related events.
Currently, two devices were purchased through a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. The Adult Probation staff and the Sheriff’s Department each have a device and will be authorized to administer the testing.
The Court is dedicated to providing a safe environment for the public, employees and users of the system, as well as, protecting the integrity of the Court and the fundamental rights of the accused.
Summer Clerkship
By: Angela Lack
On Friday
August 8th, 2003 the Carbon County Juvenile Court Office hosted
the Eastern Region summer meeting of the Pennsylvania Community Service
Association at Youth Services Agency – Camp Adams, Jim Thorpe PA. Fifteen representatives attended the
summer meeting from eight different counties, including Adams, Carbon,
Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Montgomery and York. The
Pennsylvania Community Service Association (PCSA) is a statewide
organization that focuses on the administration of community service work
as an alternative disposition ordered by the Commonwealth Courts. This organization is comprised of both
juvenile and adult probation offices.
The summer
meeting included a PCSA organizational meeting, discussing insurance for
participants and the upcoming community service conference to be held in
State College in September. Joseph
Greco, Community Based Probation Officer and Chief James Dodson of the
Carbon County Juvenile Court Office presented how community service is
administered within the Carbon County Juvenile Justice system, including
the implementation of restitution programs so juveniles can pay back their
victims. Youth Services Agency
staff presented the programs available at Camp Adams. The staff discussed educational and
vocational programs, as well as community service work and workforce
training. The Camp then provided a
barbecue picnic lunch for attendees.
After lunch, Youth Services Agency personnel invited participants
to experience their concept of
“Adventure Challenge Treatment” by educating the participants in
completing tasks on their “high ropes course”. The task at hand was to put aside fears and traverse a
175-foot wide gorge on the “zip line”, which was 100-feet above the cavern
floor. All safety precautions were
taken and all participants enjoyed the ride and beautiful view. Youth Services staff explained that
exercises such as this help reluctant youth gain confidence in themselves and
build self-esteem. The Carbon County Juvenile
Court Office wishes to express sincere gratitude to the Youth Services
Agency – Camp Adams for allowing our department to host this meeting at
their facility and for providing refreshments. 
Carbon County Juvenile Court Office
Hosts Eastern Regional Meeting
By: Joe Greco
Places to Go
By: Karen Gasker
Pine Creek Trail in Tioga State Forest is a great place
for biking and hiking. The trails run through the Pennsylvania Grand
Canyon. The 62-mile trail is being opened in segments. The
first segment, a 20-mile section from Ansonia south to Rattlesnake Rock opened
August 27, 1996. The second segment, which continues south from
Rattlesnake Rock to Waterville, is presently opened. The third and fourth
segments Ansonia north to Wellsboro Junction and Waterville south of Jersey
Shore construction will open in the future. Hiking and biking along Pine
Creek Trail provides many opportunities to see wildlife, rare plants and
waterfalls. Camping is permitted along the trails designated areas are
well marked with water available and picnic tables along with trash disposals
and bathrooms. Hiking along this trail is easy and flat. In order
to camp you must obtain a permit from the Bureau of Forestry. Private shuttle services are available from
many outfitter groups in the area.
Rafting, canoeing and kayaking are also available. Word of advice,
if you plan on camping in the gorge, be prepared for the porcupines. They like to visit the campsites and your
vehicles. They do not like mothballs; so spread them around your vehicles
and campsite.
Here is a list of helpful contacts, Pine Creek Outfitters, RR4 Box 130B, Wellsboro, Pa
16901
(570) 724-3003, www.pinecrk.com
DCNR,
Bureau of Forestry, One Nessmuk Lane
Wellsboro, PA 16901
(570)
724-2868, http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/
Directions: You can take
Route 80 West to New Columbia, Route 15 North to Mansfield and Route 6 West to
Wellsboro, OR Route 81 North to Scranton and take Route 6 West all the way to
Wellsboro. Take your pick. It takes about 2.5 hours to get there.
