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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA MIDDLE DISTRICT N RE: THE PETITION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY, BRIAN MCHALE, JEREMY HUNSICKER, CHRISTOPHER AUBEY, MICHAEL FOUNDOS, AND FREDERICK LEONARD ON BEHALF OF ALL SIMILARLY SITUATED INDIVIDUALS, Petitioners : : : : : : : : 70 MM 2020 SUPPLEMENTAL RESPONSE OF THE PRESIDENT JUDGE OF THE 31ST JUDICIAL DISTRICT (LEHIGH COUNTY) TO THE COURT’S ORDER OF APRIL 3, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic reached Pennsylvania in March, 2020 and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (“Supreme Court”) issued a series of judicial emergency orders on March 16, March 18, March 24, April 1, and April 28, 2020. Among other things, these orders suspended jury trials; suspended the time limits for commencement of trials under Rule of Criminal Procedure 600(C) (Prompt Trial Rule); closed all courts of Pennsylvania to the public except for certain essential functions; and directed the President Judge of each judicial district to fashion emergency judicial orders to address their particular circumstances. The orders eventually directed that the Courts should use advanced communication technology to conduct Court proceedings whenever possible. The April 28, 2020 order directed Pennsylvania courts to re-open beginning May 4, 2020 to conduct business, but with limitations on types of proceedings and in-person access. On May 27, 2020, the Supreme Court entered its final such order which, among other things, terminated the previous emergency orders as of June 1, 2020 and empowered each President Judge to declare an emergency within their own district and continue to exercise emergency powers. These Supreme Court orders can be found at http://www.pacourts.us/ujs-coronavirus-information. n April 3, 2020, the Supreme Court decided the within case by denying a petition asking the Supreme Court “to direct the President Judges of the Commonwealth to order, inter alia, the immediate presumptive release of specified categories of incarcerated persons to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in county correctional institutions.” The April 3, 2020 order further directed the President Judges of each judicial district to: 1 I istory H O …coordinate with relevant county stakeholders to ensure that the county correctional institutions in their districts address the threat of COVID-19, applying the recommendations of public health officials, including the CDC’s Interim in Guidance on Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Correctional and detention Facilities (Mar. 23, 2020). If utilization of public health best practices is not feasible due to the population of the county correctional institutions, President Judges should consult with relevant county stakeholders to identify individuals and/or classes of incarcerated persons for potential release or transfer to reduce the current and future populations of the institutions during this health crisis with careful regard for the safety of victims and their communities in general, with awareness of the statutory rights of victims and with due consideration given to public health concerns related to inmates who may have contracted COVID- 19. Moreover, consistent with these above considerations, President Judges are to undertake efforts to limit the introduction of new inmates into the county prison system. he April 3, 2020 Supreme Court order can be found at http://www.pacourts.us/ujs- coronavirus-information. T O n April 9, 2020, then President Judge Edward D. Reibman of the Court Of Common Pleas Of Lehigh County (“this Court”) filed a written response entitled “Response of Edward D. Reibman, President Judge of the 31st Judicial District (Lehigh County), to the Court’s Order of April 3, 2020” (“Response”). That Response outlined the changes this Court and many other institutions, departments and offices including, but not limited to, the Magisterial District Courts; the Lehigh County Office of the District Attorney; the Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office; Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services; the Lehigh County Adult Probation and Parole Department; the Lehigh County Department of Corrections and the Lehigh County Department of Human Services; conflicts attorneys appointed by the Court; and private criminal defense attorneys (“Stakeholders”) implemented in accordance with the April 3, 2020 order. For the Supreme Court’s easy reference, that Response is attached hereto as “Attachment A.” In addition, beginning in March, 2020, and continuing to the present, this Court has issued a series of judicial emergency orders effective in Lehigh County to address the multitude of considerations involved in continuing to operate this Court during the COVID-19 pandemic including, but not limited to, the need to serve members of the public who seek legal redress through this Court; the need to protect the parties, the public and courthouse employees from COVID-19; and the need to protect the legal rights of all parties involved in all legal matters filed with this Court. These local judicial emergency orders can be found on this Court’s website at https://www.lccpa.org/Covid19. 2 This supplemental response is filed to provide an updated summary of the actions undertaken by this Court and the Stakeholders in response to the directives of the Supreme Court set forth above related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the methods by which by this Court and the Stakeholders have undertaken to limit the number of defendants who come through the Lehigh County justice system (“Lehigh County Defendants”) in LCJ both prior to, and pursuant to, the April 3, 2020 order; provides data regarding trends in new criminal cases and incarceration rates over the last six years; provides a random representative sample of the composition of Lehigh County Defendants in Lehigh County Jail (“LCJ”) and their respective criminal offenses; offers information regarding the setting of bail; and identifies areas where increased community resources could supplement the work of the Court and other Stakeholders in this area. This Court and the Stakeholders are acutely aware that incarceration is to be utilized in the justice system when appropriate to protect victims and the community at large from dangerous individuals and to deter individuals from committing future crimes and to ensure a defendant’s appearance at future court proceedings. trategies Employed By The Court And Stakeholders one of us want people in jail who do not need to be there. That accomplishes nothing. The people who work in the criminal justice system in Lehigh County are acutely aware that justice does not just happen and that, as a human invention, it must be created. To do that, all involved must operate from a philosophy of respect for all of humanity and work very hard every day to ensure that everyone – defendants, victims, and the public – are treated fairly under the rule of law. In accordance with that philosophy, and well before March, 2020, this Court and the Stakeholders developed, and/or identified and utilized many innovative non-incarceration interventions and community resources to appropriately limit the number of Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ. A list of some of those interventions and resources is attached as “Attachment B.” ince the COVID-19 pandemic began, in addition to the actions set forth in Attachment A and Attachment B, this Court and the Stakeholders have also been enhancing those efforts by, among other things: 1. Reducing criminal charges where appropriate. . Re-examining the setting of bail and conditions that might allow for the release of a Lehigh County Defendant in accordance with the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure to ensure reasonable and realistic bail based on static and non-discriminatory factors. N S 2 upplemental Response 3. Changing court calendars to receive plea agreements faster. 3 S S 4. Conducting many court proceedings by advanced communication technology such as Zoom in order to minimize moving Lehigh County Defendants around and risking infection. . Regularly reviewing the Lehigh County Defendant population in LCJ for the possibility of early parole, bail reductions and/or working out plea agreements. Increasing funding to subsidize electronic monitoring costs for repeat Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Controlled Substance offenders, allowing them to choose electronic monitoring over jail without incurring the electronic monitoring cost of $14.00 per day. 5 . 6 7 . Reducing the “Good Time” policy from 1 day off of a minimum sentence for every 6 days misconduct-free to 1 day off for every 4 days misconduct-free. Furthermore, it is this Court’s understanding that the Lehigh County Department of Corrections (“DOC”) has instituted measures to prepare, respond and ultimately recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic that are in accordance with Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) guidelines, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Pandemic Plan followed by the contracted healthcare provider, and derived from ongoing communication and collaboration with other correctional facilities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These measures have been taken at LCJ and the Community Corrections Center (“CCC’), a work release facility operated by the DOC. The following is a general statement of what this Court understands to be those measures: 1. The evaluation of chemicals and cleaning supplies to ensure effectiveness in quelling the virus began in late February, 2020. Enhanced sanitation protocols were instituted throughout the departments, with particular attention to commonly used areas and surfaces. All staff and inmates were provided instructions regarding the importance of proper hygiene; frequent and thorough hand-washing; vigilance in maintaining social distance whenever possible; and the importance of keeping surfaces clean. On March 13, 2020, access to LCJ and the CCC by non-essential visitors and volunteers was suspended. Beginning on April 3, 2020, residents of the CCC were prohibited from leaving that facility to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 2. The contracted healthcare provider added COVID-19 screening questions for all new commitments. Both staff and inmates are screened for symptoms and are subject to temperature checks prior to entering the facility. All newly incarcerated inmates are required to quarantine for a minimum of 14 days. As of December, 2020, all new commitments are tested using an Abbot Rapid COVID Antigen test. Inmates who test negative are tested again at the end of their quarantine period. Mass testing of the entire LCJ population was conducted in December and regular surveillance testing of the population is on-going. 4 3. Collaborative efforts of the Stakeholders to release those inmates deemed appropriate began in in mid-March, 2020 and included review of the cases of inmates identified as medically vulnerable by the DOC’s contracted healthcare provider, to identify and implement alternatives to incarceration or discharge where suitable. The population review process is on-going. 4. Use of appropriate personal protective equipment that was provided to all staff and inmates was made mandatory, all meals are served to inmates in their cells, and the number of inmates permitted out of their cells contemporaneously was reduced to promote social distancing. . As part of the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, the DOC is working with its contracted healthcare provider to establish a plan to vaccinate both staff and inmates at such time as doses of vaccine become available. As 2020 proceeded, this Court attempted to resume jury trials by employing extensive safety measures to protect all participants from COVID-19, while at the same time protecting the statutory rights of victims and the constitutional rights of defendants. However, when the spread of COVID- 19 in Pennsylvania and Lehigh County increased in the Fall of 2020, this Court was again constrained to suspend jury trials in order to avoid the risk of spreading COVID-19. Currently, jury trials are suspended through April 2, 2021 and this Court will continue to regularly evaluate the evolving circumstances relative to the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the optimum date for resumption of jury trials. rends Over The Past Six Years otwithstanding the constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this Court and the Stakeholders have been effective in limiting the inmate population of Lehigh County defendants in LCJ throughout 2020 to the present. In order to understand where we are now, it is useful to first understand where we have been in the past. To provide that perspective, we offer the following data. It is important to note that this data relates only to Lehigh County Defendants, defendants who come through the Lehigh County justice system; it does not include federal, state, or other jurisdiction defendants - inmates over whom this Court has no jurisdiction. 1. Lehigh County has a population of approximately 370,000 people, approximately 121,000 of whom are citizens of the City of Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania. See: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/. 2. LCJ has a total bed capacity of 1,363 (1,267 operational, 96 emergency). 5 N 5 T 3. The number of new criminal cases filed in Lehigh County the past six years were: NEW CRIMINAL CASES 2015 - 2020 5423 5574 5752 5588 5306 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 4853 2020 4. The average daily population (“ADP”) of Lehigh County Defendants in custody for those same years is depicted below. The dark blue bar represents Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ. The light blue bar represents Lehigh County Defendants in the CCC. AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION BY YEAR 2015-2020 929 924 901 851 722 569 185 189 180 167 142 43 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 LEHIGH COUNTY JAIL (LCJ) COMMUNITY CORRECTION CENTER (CCC) hese charts demonstrate that, although the number of criminal cases has remained fairly consistent over the past several years until 2020, the number of Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ has steadily decreased. This is because, even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, this Court and the Stakeholders had been employing strategies to limit Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ. 6 T 5. The number of new criminal cases filed in Lehigh County in 2020, by month, is depicted on the chart below: 2020 MONTHLY NEW CRIMINAL CASES 391 386 415 355 268 445 432 541 451 462 355 352 6. The ADP of Lehigh County Defendants in 2020, by month, is depicted on the chart below. The dark blue bar represents Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ. The light blue bar represents Lehigh County Defendants in the CCC. AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION BY MONTH 2020 621 662 627 514 469 483 513 533 569 591 613 637 113 111 97 52 30 22 20 18 17 16 20 2 LEHIGH COUNTY JAIL (LCJ) COMMUNITY CORRECTION CENTER (CCC) ote that, in January, February, and March of 2020, the ADP of Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ was already at historic lows. (Compare annual totals shown on chart on page 6.) Thereafter, the LCJ population decreased further before rising in the Fall. In December 2020, the CCC was closed in order to reallocate staff to LCJ necessitated by COVID-19 related absences. The ADP of the CCC residents steadily declined through December, 2020. N 7 A Random Representative Sample One might argue that this Court is not following the directions contained in the Supreme Court’s April 3, 2020 order because the ADP of LCJ in December, 2020 of 637 Lehigh County Defendants was slightly higher than the ADP in March, 2020 of 627 defendants, which represents 46% of LCJ’s 1,363 total capacity. (See page 5). However, the ADP declined through May, 2020 and rose slowly thereafter but did not exceed the March, 2020 ADP until December, 2020. Also, the data on the prior chart shows that new criminal cases decreased in April and May but then exceeded pre-COVID-19 pandemic 2020 levels from June through October until dropping as winter began. Ii is important to understand that the population of LCJ changes daily and will continue to do so, as inmates are released and new defendants are committed. n order to understand the composition of the Lehigh County Defendant population in LCJ at any given time, a random representative sample of a specific date is illustrative: n January 26, 2021, there were 562 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ – the only LCJ inmates over whom this Court has jurisdiction. In addition, there were 136 federal, state or other jurisdiction inmates – LCJ inmates over whom this Court has no jurisdiction. That figure is 75 inmates fewer than the average ADP for the preceding month of December, 2020 (637), and 65 inmates fewer than the ADP for March, 2020 (627). The January 26, 2021 population of 562 represents 41% of LCJ’s 1363 total capacity. he composition of the 562 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ on January 26, 2021 is depicted on the chart below: Lehigh County Defendants In LCJ on 1/26/2021 By Category of Offense 29% 48% 9% 0% 6% 8% Sentenced Probation/Parole Violation Bail Revoked PFA Contempt Pending Felonies Pending Misdemeanors his chart shows the following approximate percentages of this composition: 8 I O T T Forty-eight percent (48%), or 268, of the 562 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ on January 26, 2021 had been convicted and were serving sentences, which cannot be summarily shortened, waived or suspended under the law. Also, releasing those defendants before they are eligible for parole would be against the public interest for a variety of reasons. Though 23 of these 268 defendants were eligible for parole, they remained incarcerated because: they desired to serve their maximum sentences; were subject to detainers from other counties and did not want to be transferred to another jail; or did not have housing. In some cases, family members and/or friends of the defendant did not respond to requests to secure a residence for the defendant. It is important to remember that releasing an inmate to the street could endanger that person and would prevent the Adult Probation and Parole Department from providing supervision due to being unable to contact the defendant. • Eight percent (8%), or 48, of the 562 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ on January 26, 2021 were incarcerated as a sanction for violating their probation either for technical reasons or by getting arrested on new charges. Six percent (6%), or 30, of the 562 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ on January 26, 2021 had their bail revoked because they failed to appear for Court or otherwise violated conditions of bail. One defendant was incarcerated as a sanction for contempt of a Protection From Abuse Order. Twenty-nine percent (29%), or 165, of the 562 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ on January 26, 2021 were pending disposition (between arrest and trial) of felony offenses. Nine percent (9%), or 50, of the 562 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ on January 26, 2021 were pending disposition (between arrest and trial) of misdemeanor offenses. urther break-downs of the two “pending disposition” categories, by most serious offense against each Lehigh County Defendant in LCJ on January 26, 2021, appears below. PENDING FELONIES he 165 (29%) Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ held on felony offenses by category of offense are listed below (detainers not noted). OFFENSE Homicide (Non-bailable offense) Drug Delivery Resulting In Death Attempted Homicide Sexual Assault-related Arson Aggravated Assault Robbery NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS 16 (2 had bail revoked on other charges) 1 4 8 3 31 24 9 • • • • F T 40 (9 include use of firearms) Delivery or Attempt to Deliver a Controlled Substance Firearms offenses Burglary Strangulation Failure to Register as Sex Offender Theft Fleeing and Eluding Police Escape Felony Trespass Operating a Chop Shop Stalking Corrupt Organization Retail Theft 15 9 2 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 PENDING MISDEMEANORS he 50 (9%) Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ on January 26, 2021 held on misdemeanor offenses are listed by category of offense are listed below (some detainers noted). the Influence OFFENSE Terroristic Threats Simple Assault Driving Under (DUI) Possession-related offenses Resisting Arrest Defiant Trespass Receiving Stolen Property Retail Theft (detainers) False Identification (detainer) Theft By Unlawful Taking Indecent Exposure NUMBER OF DEFENDANTS 10 11 9 (Incarcerated due to multiple charges) 8 (4 have parole/probation violations and detainers) (2 have serious and chronic mental health history) 4 1 (Has significant mental health history) 1 (Multi-state offender, extensive criminal history) 2 1 1 1 ithin a short time after January 26, 2021, approximately 20 of the 213 Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ pending disposition of criminal charges have been released through bail reductions or dispositions through the normal course of procedure. Certainly, the number of Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ will vary daily due to a variety of factors. Though it may decrease through the normal course of procedure and/or the additional efforts of this Court and the Stakeholders employed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or increase from time to time despite the best efforts of the Court and the Stakeholders, there is a reasonable basis for the current Lehigh County Defendant population in LCJ. T W 10 In each criminal case, the considerations involved in determining appropriate bail for a particular Lehigh County Defendant that are required by the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure are reviewed by the Magisterial District Judges at the outset of a case; then again by the District Attorney, Public Defender, private defense attorneys, and Pretrial Services; and still again by this Court. At each stage, every effort is made to assign a reasonable bail for each defendant in accordance with these statutory considerations, with the release of the defendant being the preferred option if safely possible for all concerned, including the victim and the public. The random representative sample discussed at pages 8 to 10 demonstrates that most Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ have serious charges and/or detainers and/or other issues which must be addressed. Very few Lehigh County Defendants remain incarcerated solely due to an inability to post bail and, when that is the case, are typically addressed in the normal course of procedure. t is important to remember that no bail is set for defendants charged with summary offenses, but that summary offenses are lesser-included offenses of felonies and misdemeanors, for which bail is set. Thus, a mere cursory review of the lists of criminal offenses charged against the Lehigh County Defendants in LCJ, which will, at any given time, include lesser-included summary offenses, could lead to the mistaken conclusion that defendants are being held in LCJ because of an inability to post bail on summary offenses alone. ehigh County is extremely fortunate to be served by Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services, one of the premier bail agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the bail agency Court- appointed by this Court for Lehigh County. Its highly experienced and dedicated officers interview defendants; conduct background investigations, make recommendations on bail and/or conditions of release to the Court or Magisterial District Court, as appropriate; supervise defendants in the community while on bail; and report any violations of bail to the Court or Magisterial District Court. ommunity Resources This Court and the Stakeholders recognize that crime is directly impacted by a variety of social factors including, but not limited to: poverty and lack of proper food and clothing, lack of safe and affordable housing, lack of access to mental health evaluations, treatment and medication, drug and alcohol addiction, unemployment, lack of transportation, problems associated with education and insufficient education support. For this reason, efforts to effect positive change in these areas by public and private organizations, agencies and individual volunteers, can meaningfully contribute to reduce the crime rate and lessen the demands upon the criminal justice system, thereby helping to lower rates of incarceration. ail B C I L 11 ehigh County is well-served by experienced, committed, hard-working, innovative, passionate, and compassionate people working in the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, the Magisterial District Courts, the Lehigh County Office of the District Attorney, the Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office, Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services, the Lehigh County Adult Probation and Parole Department, the Lehigh County Department of Corrections and the Lehigh County Department of Human Services; and as well as conflicts attorneys and private criminal defense attorneys. All have dedicated their professional lives to criminal justice and spend their time working hard to create justice rather than advertising their good work. Their desire to protect all of the people of Lehigh County, incarcerated and non-incarcerated alike, from a wide variety of dangers is genuine, yet realistic. Daily, they ably balance the goal of limiting the number of Lehigh County Defendants who are incarcerated and limiting the spread of COVID-19 among the LCJ population, with the safety of the public that could be at risk were defendants to be released without proper regard for necessary and important legal considerations. his Court will continue to: engage and coordinate with the Stakeholders; undertake efforts to limit the introduction of new inmates into the county prison system; identify and implement changes necessary to meet the specific challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic; and honor the long-standing commitment of this Court and the Stakeholders to effectively, efficiently and respectfully administer criminal justice in Lehigh County in order to protect the rights and safety of all – defendants, victims, and public alike. L T onclusion C Respectfully submitted, ebruary 24, 2021 J. Brian Johnson, President Judge 12 F ATTACHMENT A ATTACHMENT B INTERVENTIONS AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES UTILIZED IN THE LEHIGH COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM The Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County (“Court”), the Magisterial District Judges of Lehigh County, the Office of the District Attorney of Lehigh County, the Public Defender of Lehigh County, the Lehigh County Adult Probation and Parole Department, Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services, the Lehigh County Department of Corrections, the Lehigh County Department of Human Services, conflicts attorneys, and private criminal defense attorneys (“Stakeholders”) have, for many years, been engaged in a continuing cooperative and collaborative effort to review cases for reduced bail where appropriate, to resolve cases at the earliest time reasonably possible, and to utilize all possible interventions and resources to prevent incarceration in the Lehigh County criminal justice system. The following is a list of some of the interventions and community resources utilized prepared by some of the Stakeholders. This list is not exhaustive of every resource or intervention available; but is a representative compilation. Some of these interventions were created specifically as part of the criminal justice system in Lehigh County and others are existing community resources that are accessed and utilized, as appropriate, by that system. Over-arching the long-standing effort by the Court and Stakeholders to develop and utilize interventions and resources to prevent incarceration, is the Lehigh County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB), a cross-systems, multi-disciplinary communication and collaboration board comprised of representative members of institutions and agencies in Lehigh County that was created approximately 20 years ago. Over those 20 years CJAB has enhanced our ability to address the many factors involved in criminal justice and continues to do so. (2/24/21) 1 1. Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County. • Created a Drug Court to ensure public safety through a judicially-managed intensive substance abuse treatment program, including intensive treatment/supervision, case management and other services to defendants. A multi-agency concept treats addiction, addresses barriers to recovery and fosters pro-social bonds to remain drug/crime free. Community based supervision employing incentives/rewards and sanctions, such as electronic monitoring, are utilized to encourage positive outcomes and prevent lengthy terms of incarceration. 2. Office of the District Attorney of Lehigh County • Team MISA (Mental Illness Substance Abuse), develops intervention strategies and individualized action plans for the disposition of criminal cases and re-entry to our community for individuals with special needs. Team MISA was created by the DA’s Office, Pretrial Services, the Jail, and the Mental Health Office. • Veteran Mentor Program. The Veterans’ Mentor Program provides all qualifying veterans with a trained mentor who serves as an advocate and ally to help them navigate the criminal justice system and life issues. • Ramona, a black Labrador, is a trained courthouse companion dog who is available to interact with crime victims and witnesses who may be nervous about the criminal justice system. • Lehigh County DA’s school-based sexting prevention program. 2 • Prescription Medication Drop Boxes located throughout the community to collect medications that are no longer needed or are expired. • Community Based Intervention programs that are anti-drug and anti-gang focused. • Elder Abuse Task Force 3. Lehigh County Adult Probation and Parole Department. • Provides on and off-site classroom presentations on Alcohol Highway Safety, Financial Management, Health Education Awareness, Job Readiness Training, Life Skills, Prevention through Anti-Violence Education (PAVE), Retail Theft Rehabilitation, • Developed the Out-Mate Program as a non-incarceration option, which consists of Substance Abuse Education. three stages: o A defendant in violation status enters the Community Corrections Center, for up to 90 days, in lieu of incarceration; o While in the Community Correction Center, the defendant attends programming geared towards their risk and needs, such as intensive drug treatment, anger management, sex offender treatment and other programming afforded at the Community Correction Center; o Upon successful completion, the defendant is released from the Community Corrections Center without a Probation/Parole violation or loss of “street time.” The Out-Mate Program accomplishes the three primary goals of reducing the number of probation/parole technical violations, enforcing court compliance and preventing incarceration. 3 • Implemented the following procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to limit the jail population: o Developed a bail recommendation checklist which is forwarded to each Judge to ensure reasonable/realistic bail based on static and non-discriminatory factors, such as risk, underlying charge, ties to the community, etc. Periodically reviewing the jail population for the possibility of early parole in order to reduce the jail population. o Increased funding for electronic monitoring to subsidize electronic monitoring costs for repeat DUI offenders allowing DUI offenders to choose electronic monitoring over jail without incurring the cost of $14 per day while on electronic monitoring. o Changed the “good time” policy, which was reduced from one day off an inmate’s minimum for every six days they are misconduct free to one day off an inmate’s minimum for every four days misconduct free. 4. Public Defender of Lehigh County. • Client Advocate: provides holistic support for defendants and collaborates with other entities to connect individuals to case management appropriate community resources. • Bail Review/Expediated Case Resolution: Conducts daily review of bail of all new pretrial inmates to determine the necessity of a bail reduction and/or the expedited • Review for Early Parole: Conducts frequent reviews of inmates serving sentences to resolution of cases. determine early parole eligibility. 4 5. Lehigh Valley Pretrial Services is the bail agency appointed by the Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County. It: • Conducts interviews of defendants. • Provides bail recommendations including conditions of release. • Refers defendants to treatment services, • Provides supervision and support to ensure compliance and connection to community services. • Monitors LCJ population for the purpose of possible bail reductions. • Makes referrals for housing. • Makes referrals for drug and alcohol treatment. • Makes referrals of mental health assessment, treatment and medication. • Coordinate Planned Releases of defendants from LCJ to various programs, as appropriate. • Makes referrals to job readiness programs. • Communicate and coordinate with the other resources on this list. 6. Lehigh County Department of Human Services • Information and Referral, a centralized unit provides for a “no wrong door” entry, allowing residents to receive timely referral by cross-trained staff that take referrals for all DHS offices, provide information about county and community resources and emergency services, and facilitate the initial stage of multi-office collaboration. 5 • Lehigh County Crisis Intervention is a licensed telephone and mobile crisis service that provides mental health assessments to all age groups regardless of income or insurance. Crisis Intervention operates 24-hour/7 days a week. • Cross Systems Team is an interdisciplinary team of staff across DHS, probation, Pretrial Services, Magellan, and community providers that develops plans to support people who are involved in multiple systems. • Community-based residential services are provided by five providers contracted by the County Mental Health office. These are staffed residential units established in community settings that provide specialized treatment, rehabilitation and care for people living with a serious and persistent mental illness. • Pathways to treatment has a case manager who serves as a “boundary spanner” supporting individuals who do not “fit” neatly into one service area. The case manager supports people in obtaining benefits, housing and other needed services to live successfully in the community. • Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH), is a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration funded program operated by Lehigh County that funds services for people with serious mental illness experiencing homelessness. Since PATH is not HUD-funded, PATH funds often can be used to supplement and fill in cracks left by HUD limitations. • Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol. o Prevention promotes constructive lifestyles that discourage drug abuse and promotes development of social environments that facilitate drug-free lifestyles. 6 o Intervention encompasses the initial steps for drug and alcohol services. The goal is to assist the individual to recognize, to identify and to engage the problems related to substance abuse. Intervention services identify the fact that support is needed not only for the individual but also for their family environments. o Assessment Information the first step in the process for Lehigh County residents to get the assistance they need. o Intensive Case Management (ICM) services are designed for those individuals who present with multiple needs and lack the skills or resources to meet those needs. The two primary goals of ICM are: 1) to increase client retention in and completion of drug and alcohol treatment in order to move clients toward recovery and self-sufficiency; and 2) to increase client access to core services such as psychiatric care and secure living environments. o In-Patient treatment may consist of detoxification, short-term residential, moderated and long term residential. The treatment level that is needed is based upon the information that is gathered at the assessment for treatment services. o Partial hospitalization treatment, consists of psychiatric, psychological and other types of therapy on a planned and regularly scheduled basis in which the client resides within the facility. This service is designed for those clients who do not require 24-hour residential care, but who would benefit for more intensive treatments than offered in Outpatient treatment options. o Halfway Home of the Lehigh Valley, a community-based residential treatment and rehabilitation facility that provides services for chemically dependent persons in a supportive, chemical-free environment. While this setting does provide 7 substance abuse treatment, it also emphasizes protective and supportive elements of family living. o Out-Patient treatment, is an organized, non-residential treatment service providing therapy in which the client resides outside the facility and commutes from their home. These services are usually provided in regularly scheduled individual and group treatment sessions and are generally not more than 5 hours of therapy per week. o Intensive Out-Patient treatment (IOP), is also an organized, non-residential treatment service in which the client resides outside the facility and commutes from their home. IOP provides structured therapy and client stability through increased periods of staff intervention. o Center of Excellence (CoE) a community-based care management teams to assist with care coordination and recovery support for their clients. The care management team work together to ensure that clients' care is coordinated across all domains and that all treatment and non-treatment needs are addressed, either through on-site services or through referrals. 7. Lehigh County Mental Health Forensic Services • SPORE (Special Program of Recovery and Education), a partnership between the Office of Lehigh County Mental Health and the Juvenile and Adult Probation Departments that provides a mental health caseworker and a probation officer to jointly and intensively supervise consumers who experience severe mental health problems. This team works closely with community based mental health services to assist the 8 consumer in developing emotional stability. Forensic case management assisting with cases in jail or out on bail, providing assessments and evaluations. Psychiatric evaluations are utilized to identify individual’s needs as they pertain to obtaining and participating in mental health services. • Law Enforcement, CIT (Crisis Intervention Team), has trained 126 officers representing 14 police departments in Lehigh County. This national model of training first responders was implemented in Lehigh County in 2014. The training includes mental health awareness, system information and contacts and de-escalation techniques. • Sex Offender treatment. 8. National Alliance on Mental Illness - Lehigh Valley • Peer Support Group is for individuals who live with serious mental illnesses and are seeking wellness. The meeting provides a safe space to give and receive support in a confidential, relaxed setting. • Family Support Group is for families and close friends of individuals who live with mental illness. In a confidential setting, we share our stories, help each other, and embrace humor as one of many practical ways to cope. 9. The Advocacy Alliance • Consumer/Family Satisfaction Teams • Consumer Financial Management Services o Representative Payee Services 9 o Guardianship Services • Peer Mentors provide help and support utilizing their lived experience of having a mental illness in coming alongside another person and supporting them in their recovery. 10. Step by Step • MPR (Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation), provides mental health treatment to individuals while incarcerated at Lehigh County Jail to support recovery and prevent decompensation and assists individuals who are released to independent living to establish community reentry in a positive, healthy and organized manner. • LTSR (Long Term Structured Residence), is a secure facility for eight individuals who have a serious mental illness and need treatment and/or competency restoration. Individuals are placed in the LTSR as a diversion form incarceration or state hospitals • LTSR Step-Down is a ten-bed facility that allows individuals leaving the LTSR or are otherwise forensically involved to continue in their recovery as they prepare for full community integration. 11. Lehigh County Mental Health CARE program (Corrections Assessment Re- entry Endeavor), under a contract with Step by Step, this program provides intake and assessment, counseling, and psychiatric evaluations in the jail. This service also supports the transition from jail-based to community treatment. 10 12. Pinebrook Family Services • Community Services-Police Liaison. Lehigh County funds two CIS (Community Integration Specialists) who serve as police liaisons working closely with the municipal police departments providing mental health consultation to officers in the field and connecting individuals to resources and treatment. CIS staff also support individuals at the Magisterial District Court. • Warmline a confidential, one-on-one telephone support service for individuals who have a mental illness and are experiencing sadness or loneliness. It is staffed by individuals who are in recovery and understand the needs of their peers. 13. PeerStar, Certified Forensic Peers. Forensic Peer Support is an evidence-based model that focuses on jail diversion and community reintegration. Peer Specialists run groups in the jail and meet individuals the day they are released to help ensure engagement with community services. 14. Blue Guardian is an innovative program operated in partnership with the County’s Drug and Alcohol program and local law enforcement, has a police officer and a Certified Recovery Specialist respond to the home of an individual within 24 to 48 hours of the individual experiencing a Narcan reversal of an opioid overdose. 15. Averhealth provides drug testing services to justice-involved programs. 11 16. Upper Macungie HUB. The Upper Macungie Police Department holds a monthly interdisciplinary team meeting to discuss and develop plans for human service-related calls. 17. Haven House • Outpatient Services that are expedited for people leaving the jail. In had taken 3-4 months for a returning citizen to have an appointment with a psychiatrist to receive medications. Haven House was able to provide appointments every Thursday afternoon to enable people to receive prescriptions and remain on their medications. • Facility and Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation services focusing on the five domains of living, learning, socializing, self-maintenance, and working. • Wellness Recovery Team cares for adults with a serious and persistent mental illness and a co-occurring chronic physical illness and/or substance use disorder. 18. Lehigh Conference of Churches • Daybreak is a drop-in center that gives people living with mental illness or physical disabilities and those struggling with addiction or HIV/AIDS, as well as the neighborhood’s elderly, a place to belong. Staff teach life skills and work with members to provide stability and helping them reach their full potential. Daybreak serves two balanced meals daily. • Pathways Housing Services offers a full spectrum of housing services designed for homeless or in an unstable housing situation. Services include: Pharmaceutical assistance for qualifying prescriptions, Representative payee services, Benefit 12 enrollment assistance for the uninsured and guidance in securing identification, Help with day-to-day needs, such as diapers, baby wipes, bus passes, and utility assistance • Lazarus Housing Project offers shared housing opportunities for adults re-entering the community following incarceration. It successfully provides affordable housing, develops supportive relationships and helps people remain safely in the community. • Homeless Outreach and Positive-social Engagement (“HOPE ICM Program”) provides a pathway to stability for homeless adults dealing with mental illness and substance abuse. • Ecumenical Soup Kitchen serves 36,000 meals annually, including 1,500 children. 19. Allentown Rescue Mission • Emergency Shelter. • Transformation Program offers spiritual growth opportunities, transitional housing meals, clothing, and life skills education classes • The Clean Team participants earn wages performing real work in the community, while learning valuable life skills. • DeSales University free medical services provided for clients of the Allentown Rescue Mission. The clinic is staffed by volunteer doctors, physician assistants, DeSales’ faculty, and physician assistant students from the community. 20. YMCA Warming Station is open from November to April and serves as a temporary shelter for homeless men and women in need of respite from the harsh elements of winter. 13 21. St Luke’s Parrish Nurses Program is an outreach of St. Luke’s Sacred Heart operating in churches and soup kitchens in Allentown focusing on the realms of mind, body and spirit of homeless and near homeless individuals. 22. Street Medicine Program is designed to deliver primary and urgent care to homeless people in shelters, soup kitchens, under bridges or in the woods. All care provided by Street Medicine, including medications, laboratory tests and diagnostic studies, is free. 23. Assertive Community Teams (ACT), consists of a community-based group of medical, behavioral health and rehabilitation professionals who use a team approach to meet the needs of an individual with severe and persistent mental illness. This is a 24/7 response model that is referred to as “a hospital without the walls.” 24. Blended Case Managers (BCM) a service that assists individuals with a variety of behavioral health/medical needs by building a strong network of community resources and services. The BCM program plays a major role by linking clients with needed services in the community. 25. Robbins Bower Crisis Residential program is a lower-cost, community-based treatment option in a home-like setting that helps reduce emergency department visits and divert hospitalization and/or incarcerations. 14 26. New Vitae Wellness and Recovery/Mt Trexler Manor • Veterans Services include comprehensive behavioral, co-occurring, and addiction treatments in addition to supportive residential opportunities to promote recovery and personal resiliency. Residential mental health wellness and recovery center. • Action Recovery: Brain Injury Services supports those who have experienced brain injuries or other long-term diagnoses with specialized medical and residential services. 27. Goodwill Keystone Area to employment. • Employment Services are provided to individuals with disabilities and other barriers • Clubhouse of Lehigh County provides persons with mental illness a safe healing environment wherein each person is given the opportunity to explore their personal and vocational potentials to their fullest and receive support in achieving their goals. 28. Ripple Community, Inc.’s Community Building Center is the only day center in Allentown that is open to the public. While everyone is welcome, they primarily serve adults who are experiencing homelessness, who are living with mental illness, who have experienced significant trauma, or have other conditions or experiences that can leave them isolated and alone. 29. Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), assists Pennsylvanians with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, or maintain employment. 15 30. PA CareerLink Lehigh Valley provides employment support and training, connecting employers and job opportunities with qualified job seekers throughout the Lehigh Valley. 31. Pennsylvania 211 is a free, confidential, non-emergency, comprehensive information and referral service that connects residents of Lehigh and surrounding counties with the health and human services they need. 32. Community Correction Center (CCC) • In addition to classes, there are also numerous support groups, bible studies, a survivor’s group, 12-step groups, and a book club. Below is the list of classes: o Conflict Resolution/Stress Management: Center for Humanistic Change (CHC) Ongoing 3-week class, twice a week. o Healthy Relationships: CHC. Ongoing 3-week class, twice a week. o Decision Making: CHC. Ongoing 3-week class, twice a week. o Employment Readiness: CCC. Ongoing 4-week class, twice a week. o Intervention: White Deer Run (WDR). Ongoing 4-week class, three times a week. o Relapse Prevention: CHC. Ongoing 4-week class, twice a week. o Life Skills: CHC- Ongoing 4-week class, twice a week. o Creative Writing: Muhlenberg College. Once a week for 10 ten weeks, twice a year. o Criminality and Impulse Control: CCC. Ongoing once a week for 8 weeks. o GED: Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC). Ongoing, twice a week. o What’s Next: Ongoing once a week for 6 weeks. o Inside/Out: Muhlenberg College. Twice a year, once a week for 10 weeks. o Parenting: CHC. Ongoing once a week for 6 weeks. 16 o Reentry: CHC. Ongoing once a week for 6 weeks. o Computer Literacy: Indian American Organization. Ongoing once a week for 6 weeks. o CRS: CoE. Beginning mid-October (specifics TBD) • The CCC also has a volunteer program in which residents volunteer at various agencies and events, such as: o The Caring Place o The Museum of Indian Culture o Allentown Victory Church o Fountain Hill Cemetery o St. Steven’s Episcopal Church o Lehigh Valley Active Life o Nehemiah Wall o Whitehall Historical Society o Horses Unplugged o New Bethany Church o Lehigh Conference of Churches o PA Music and Arts • Center for Humanistic Change provides additional classes: o Cyber Gambling o Managing Emotions in a Time of Crisis o Drug Trends o Resiliency and the Impact of Trauma 17 o HOPE (opioid crisis) o Fetal Alcohol Syndrome • MARS also provides drug and alcohol treatment (Individual and IOP and OP groups) 33. Lehigh County Jail (LCJ) (NOTE: These are interventions normally used before the pandemic; many of these cannot be used during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the risk of exposure.) (This list does not include faith-based programs) PROGRAM PROGRAM PROVIDER Alcoholics Anonymous (Men/Women) AA- Hospitals and Institutions Anger Management Program (Men/Women) Center for Humanistic Change Step by Step C.A.R.E. (Corrections Assessment Re-entry Endeavor) for SMI (Series Mental Illness) inmates; contracted with Step by Step - providing the following SMI/MH (Mental Health) services: 1. LTSR 2. Psych. Rehab Services 3. Counseling Note: Dr. Chaleby of Step by Step is available for Lehigh County Jail assessments of new clients. Certified Peer Specialist Service-Link to MH and Community services for inmates with SMI. Referral for support services by LCJ Case Managers and Prime Care required. Certified Recovery Specialist Re-entry Support Program (Men/Women) Computer Literacy Program (Men/Women) PeerStar, LLC Treatment Trend’s Center of Excellence Indian American Association of the Lehigh Valley Decision Making Program (Men/Women) Center for Humanistic Change Diploma Program (Men/Women) Allentown School District Employment Readiness Program (Men/Women) LCJ Case Manager 18 English Second Language Program (Men) Lehigh Carbon Community College Healthy Relationships Program (Men/Women) HiSET (High School Equivalency), (Men/Women) Leaving Jail Program-Women’s (Completion of 5 separate programs: Seeking Safety, Re- entry, Employment, Thinking for a Change and Parenting) Life Skills Program (Men/Women) Mental Health Program (Selected Males) Mental Issues Substance Abuse Meeting (Team MISA) Narcotics Anonymous (Men/Women) Center for Humanistic Change Lehigh Carbon Community College Pinebrook Family Answers Center for Humanistic Change LCJ Case Manager for Special MH Male Housing Unit LCJ Case Managers and other County Departments NA- Hospitals and Institutions Parenting Program-Men’s Center for Humanistic Change Parenting Program-Women’s Pinebrook Family Answers Parole Readiness Program (Men/Women) LCJ Case Manager Pathway to Recovery-Medically Assisted Treatment Program (Men/Women) Recovery in Progress Program (Men/Women) LCJ Case Manager Treatment Trend’s Center of Excellence Re-entry Meeting-Lehigh County Jail (Men/Women) Relapse Prevention Program (Men/Women) Center for Humanistic Change LCJ Case Manager and other County Departments Re-entry Group Program (Men/Women) Center for Humanistic Change Lehigh Valley Hospital affiliated program “Street Medicine”-Link to survival resources, medicine and mailing address for the homeless who agree and sign for services via Lehigh Valley Hospital program. Thinking for a Change Program (Women) VAST Learning & Support Group Program (Women) Victim Awareness Program LCJ Case Manager Pinebrook Family Answers Valley Against Sexual Trafficking 19 Women’s Recovery Program LCJ Case Manager Yoga (Women) Amoga Youthful Offenders Program LCJ Case Manager 20
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Here are the fields we could identify.
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was the_lehigh_county_criminal_justice_system (0.34 conf)We've done our best to group similar variables togther to avoid overwhelming the user.
Suggested Screen 0:
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Suggested Screen 1:
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Suggested Screen 2:
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Suggested Screen 3:
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