Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice System / PA counties’ priorities

On the Thursday January 25th, 2018 edition of WITF’s Smart Talk:

Most people don’t know much about the juvenile justice system.  One of the reasons is that unlike adult criminal court, court proceedings and records are not open to the public.  The idea is to protect the identity of the young person accused of a crime or breaking the law.

There are other differences too.  A single judge hears juvenile cases with no jury.  The probation department, prosecutors and defense attorneys often work together to determine what’s best for the young person while taking crime victims and public safety into account as well.

Last year, WITF was given unique access into Cumberland’s County’s juvenile justice system, including following one young woman in the system for six months.

This Friday, WITF-PBS will broadcast  Real Life Real Issues: Juvenile Justice, looking behind-the-scenes at the state’s system as a juvenile offender navigates the often precarious landscape of juvenile justice.  On Thursday’s Smart Talk, we discuss juvenile justice in the state with Cumberland County juvenile public defender Ron Turo and Cumberland County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Sam Miller.

We’ll also speak with Adam Rupert, a recipient of the Hoffer Second Chance Scholarship, awarded to outstanding college students who had once been involved in the juvenile justice system.

Also, county commissioners across Pennsylvania are planning their 2018 agendas.  On the docket include ways of dealing with the opioid crisis, funding for county services including first responders and stabilizing revenues and spending.  Smart Talk will discuss county commissioner plans with Douglas Hill, Executive Director of the County Commssioners Association of Pennsylvania and Lancaster County Commissioner Dennis Stuckey.

 

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