NorCo Adds Veterans to Its Problem-Solving Courts

Northampton County has embraced the concept of problem-solving courts in an effort to get at the root of what causes some people to commit crimes. There's a drug court for post-conviction offenders that help participants get a handle on addiction. There's also a mental health court for both pre- and post-conviction offenders that assist people who offend because of mental illness. Now there's a new problem-solving court for veterans. Below is an explanation:

From Administrative Office of Pa Courts:

The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas is pleased to announce that it will hold its first meeting of its new Veterans Treatment Court on Thurs., Feb. 15, 2024.

The Court will meet bi-weekly to provide supervision and support to its veteran participants with partners from the Northampton County Offices of Adult Probation, District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, VA Veterans Justice Outreach Program, and local non-profit, BattleBorne, as well as veteran mentor volunteers from the community.

Applications are available at the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office, and they will soon be available online at the County’s Criminal Court forms page.

Hon. Jennifer R. Sletvold, Administrative Judge of Problem-Solving Courts, first announced the establishment of a Veterans Treatment Court in August 2023.

Northampton County joins 25 other Pennsylvania counties with Veterans Treatment Court programs that assist justice-involved veterans suffering from mental health issues such as posttraumatic stress disorder and other co-occurring disorders as a result of their service to this country.

The purpose of these programs is to reduce recidivism and help veterans return to their jobs and families and become productive citizens. Participants are intensely supervised throughout the course of the program, while receiving guidance and support from veteran mentors, as well as any necessary treatment from the VA or local treatment providers.

NorCo Drug Court Gets $200,000 Grant

Craig Dally is Administrative Judge
of NorCo's Problem Solving Courts

Northampton County Drug Court has received a $200,000 grant from Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). According to Problem Solving Court Administrator Stephanie Spencer, this money pays for training, education, monitoring, sober living activities and need-based assistance.

Northampton County's Drug Court is a rigorous five-phase program lasting 18 to 24 months in which graduates must meet the following requirements: (1)complete recommended treatments and aftercare; (2) achieve and maintain sustained sobriety; (3) get a GED; (4) obtain and maintain full-time employment; (5) engage in self-help recovery activities; (6) budget for and meet financial responsibilities including making regular payments on any costs, fines, and restitution they may owe; and (7) volunteer service.

The program not only ensures that individuals are in recovery and contributing to their communities and families, it has also saved over $1,000,000.00 in incarceration costs since its inception. The Court currently has an enrollment of fifty-two (52) active participants, and to date, it has had fourteen (14) graduates.

Judge Dally Discusses Problem Solving Courts

Judge Craig Dally

There are currently 106 problem-solving courts in 44 counties, a 300% increase since 2007. Northampton County's Problem Solving Court celebrated its second anniversary in April. Judge Craig Dally updated NorCo Council yesterday on how this approach is working. There are basically two courts. The first is Drug Court, which is available to persons who have already been convicted. The second is Mental Health Court, which is for persons who have been charged with minor crimes in which their mental challenges play an appreciable role.

Drug Court

There are currently 44 participants (76% male and 24% female) in this four-phase program, which lasts from 18-24 months. There have been five graduates. The average age is 29, and the drug choice is heroin. This program is for people who have had repeated treatment attempts and repeated criminal activity. "But for the program, they'd either be in our jail or the state prison," said Judge Dally. He added that the reason there have been only five graduates is because the program has only existed for two years.

That also makes it difficult to determine whether a successful graduate returns to crime, which is called recidivism. Judge Dally conceded he has insufficient data to make any claim about his court. But nationally, he noted that the 1-year recidivism rate of drug court graduates is just 17%,and the two year recidivism rate is only 27%.

Without a drug court, the recidivism rate of a drug offender is 60-80%.

A condition of graduation from drug court is payment if all fines, court costs and restitution. The five graduates have paid over $15,000 in costs, fines and restitution. This compares favorably to many defendants who never pay a penny.

Drug courts also reduce costs of housing at the jail. Based on the per diem cost of an inmate, Judge Dally estimates that Drug Court has saved taxpayers $944,000 thus far.

Judge Dally told Council that, in a drug court, participants are working, going to school and working on their recovery. This court is also a benefit to different county agencies who work together, like Drug and Alcohol. The community saves money because it lowers the tax burden and enables members to work and raise their families, instead of leaning on others. All must be employed. "We're trying to encourage them to be responsible citizens," said the Judge.

Almost all the funding for this court comes from insurance companies, Medicaid and grants. The county does pay for transitional housing.

The drug court meets once every week, and there are usually ten hearings. People in this court are tested twice weekly.

Mental Health Court

Unlike Drug Court, which is for people who have already been convicted, mental health court is diversionary. What this means is that charges are dismissed on successful completion of a program. There must be a direct correlation between mental illness and criminal activity. Also, the District Attorney must recommend he participant.

Thus far, there have been 12 graduates. There are only 10 participants, and seven are men. The average age is 42.

Judge Dally said the courts are also considering a post-conviction court for mentally ill defendants.

Participants usually include persons who assaulted family members or who engage in shoplifting.

According to Judge Dally, this court adds little appreciable cost to the county.

There are also times when participants are both addicted and mentally ill. Judge Dally discussed a person he actually removed from drug court and sent to jail today. He has been in foster care or jail since he was nine years old. "He's been institutionalized his entire life, and we had to institutionalize him,"said Dally. "There's got to be a better way."

Hayden Phillips complained that the state reduced the number of mental hospitals,and then wonder about a mental health problem. "There's no place to go with these people," agreed Judge Dally.

Seth Vaughn asked Judge Dally about establishing a veterans' court. He said it is being considered, but questions whether there is enough of a demand.

NorCo's Problem Solving Courts Gets an Administrator

Stephanie Spencer

Judicial Law Clerk Stephanie Spencer was approved by Northampton County Council last night, in a 8-1 vote, to a new hybrid role as both a law clerk to Judge Craig Dally as well as the Problem Solving Courts Administrator. Though there was some concern about what special qualifications a judicial law clerk might have as a problem courts administrator, Judge Craig Dally answered them. Spencer's initial training is in social services, and she decided on law as a second career.

She will be administering both the Drug Court and Mental Health Court.

The drug court has 33 people enrolled and two graduates. Judge Dally explained that it takes 18-24 months to complete the program. This is a post-conviction court.

Mental health court has just 14 participants, but there are six graduates. This is a diversionary court in which charges are dismissed after successful participation.

Efforts are under way to enroll veterans in both courts.

Fisher's salary will increase from $67,425 to $77,566, a $10,141 increase.

A courthouse rumor that her new salary will be over $100,000 is inaccurate.Her combined salary and benefits will be $104,276.

Council President John Cusick, the sole No vote, noted that other counties are paying more money.

Updated 11:55am: I apologize for calling Stephanie Spencer By the name Stephanie Fisher. Since I had her confused with a famous actress, my penalty should've minor.

Judge Dally Explains Problem-Solving Courts

Judge Craig Dally

Problem solving courts deal proactively with the underlying reasons for criminal behavior. A person with mental illness might harass his or her neighbors. A drug addict might steal from family and friends. Both can and are often sent to jail, but unless the addiction or mental illness is addressed, jails become revolving doors for repeat offenders. It does them or their victims no good. It costs the rest of us money. Soon after he became a judge, Craig Dally recognized that "[w]e could do a better job." He now presides over Northampton County's two problem solving courts, which meet every Thursday at 3 pm. These tribunals address the root cause of criminogenic behavior and are less adversarial than traditional courts. It's too soon to say whether this approach is working, but Judge Dally updated Northampton County Council at its July 20 meeting.

Drug Court

The first of these community courts, Drug Court, was established in April 2015. This court is available for county residents with substance abuse disorders who commit crimes. It is a post-conviction court, meaning it is available to people who have already pleaded guilty. Participation in drug court might be part of probationary sentence or could be offered to eligible probation and parole violators.

It's a four-phase program that starts with electronic monitoring, curfews, weekly reinforcement meetings and drug testing twice every week. Over time, the electronic monitoring and curfews are dropped. Reinforcement meetings become less frequent. But the drug testing, twice a week, continues. Before advancing from one phase to the next, participants must write and read an essay in open court on a designated recovery topic.

During this time, participants are assisted in obtaining housing, education and employment. They are encouraged to attend daily Narcotics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, with the goal being 90 meetings in 90 days.

Before graduating, participants must have nine months of sobriety, a decent job, a stable home and must have set up a plan to pay all fines and costs.

It's an 18-24 month program, so there are no graduates at this early stage. But 27 people (60% male) between ages 20 and 50 participate in drug court. Most are heroin addicts.

Though there are no statistics for Northampton County, Judge Dally reports that nationwide, the recidivism rate of drug court graduates is 16% in the first year and 27% in the second. By comparison, the recidivism rates of imprisoned drug users is 60-80%.

Judge Dally told Council that drug court has saved 4,138 prison days, resulting in a cost saving to the county of $423,386.88. In addition, participants have been able to pay $17,813.15 in fines and costs.

Mental Health Court

Northampton's second problem solving court, Mental Health Court, has been in operation since early 2015. Unlike Drug Court, this is a diversionary court, meaning that a person charged with a crime has an opportunity to get the charges dismissed following successful completion of the program. This court exists solely for non-violent offenders with a diagnosed mental illness. There must be a direct correlation between that illness and the criminal activity charged.

There are currently 12 participants in Mental health Court, eight males and four females. They range in age from 21 to 61. Two persons have graduated thus far.

Admission into this program must first be approved by the District Attorney, after which a participant undergoes a clinical assessment. The Court makes the ultimate decision. Like drug court, this program requires attendance at reinforcement hearings and payment of all court costs.Participants are assisted in obtaining stable housing and employment. Special attention is paid to ensuring that prescribed medication is taken and that treatment sessions are attended.

Unlike therapeutic programs offered at the jail, problem solving courts cost the county nothing. It costs $101.73 per day to house an inmate, so these courts actually save money.

The main goal is to stop the revolving door of repeat offenders.

NorCo DA Calls Mental Health Court a Success

After being in business for a year, Northampton County DA John Morganelli is calling the County's fledgling mental health court a success. During that time, 43 people applied for admission. only nine have been approved both by the DA and the Courts. Eight cases are still under consideration.

There's reason to be cautious. This is a diversionary program. A person who makes it through this program will be rewarded with a dismissal of the charges. When the court was first established, the hope was that it would provide classic mental health treatment and housing opportunities.

Like the Mental Health Court, Drug Court is another problem solving court that got its start in Northampton County last year. That is a post-conviction court.

Do these courts just add costs? Advocates argue that they actually save money. Every person kept out of jail saves the County $100 per day. State programs and private insurance bear much of the cost. According to a study prepared by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, every dollar invested in a drug court saves taxpayers $3.36 in criminal justice costs alone. Most importantly, 75% of drug court graduates never see another pair of handcuffs.

President Judge Stephen Baratta and Judge Craig Dally are the driving force behind these innovations.

DA Report on Mental Health Court

Judge Dally Goes to Drug Court School

(During a recess, from left to right, Judicial Clerk Stephanie Spencer, Ass't PD Matt Goodrich, Judge Irvin G Condon:, Meghan Wheeler, Vanessa Price and Judge Craig Dally)

It was a little unusual to see a judge sitting in a training room taking notes, but that's exactly what Northampton County Judge Craig Dally was doing. Instead of being surrounded by tipstaffs and deputy sheriffs, Judge Dally was enveloped by his treatment team, which consisted mostly of Human Services employees. They were all going to school, not to learn about the new math, but drug courts.

Under Judge Dally's guidance, Northampton County began operating a drug court in April. It is one of two county problem solving courts and currently has 11 participants. The other problem solving court, a mental health court, has engaged five defendants.

Stephanie Spencer, Esq., a member of Judge Dally's Treatment Team, said that problem solving courts deal with the underlying behavior that results in criminal activity. It's a court that requires intensive treatment and supervision by a participant who wants to be there. This is in contrast to regular criminal courts in which people who end up in jail are just "sitting and not progressing."

Drug courts are post-conviction tribunals that deal with people who have already gone through the criminal system and are on probation. Mental health courts, in contrast, deal with persons who have been charged with criminal behavior, but have not been convicted. Participants in that program must be approved by the District Attorney.

According to Spencer, policies are in place for veterans in both courts. She explained they have different needs and that different programs are available to them. Meghan Wheeler added that, nationwide, there is a specific type of problem solving court called a Veteran Treatment Court.

Do these courts just add costs? Advocates argue that they actually save money. Spencer noted that every person kept out of jail saves the County $100 per day, and that state programs and private insurance bear much of the cost. According to a study prepared by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, every dollar invested in a drug court saves taxpayers $3.36 in criminal justice costs alone. Most importantly, 75% of drug court graduates never see another pair of handcuffs.

Judge Dally and his treatment team received instruction from Judge Irvin G Condon, who has presided over Charleston County's Drug Court since its inception in 1999. Former Oklahoma City Police Inspector Vanessa Price, who helped develop a drug court there, also served as an instructor. Meghan Wheeler, who helped develop a statewide drug court in Ohio rounded out the faculty. They were sent by the National Drug Court Institute.

Northampton County is one of just ten jurisdictions selected to participate in this training. This is a step toward accreditation of the Northampton County Drug Court program by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

( Judge Dally is just another student in classes conducted by the National Drug Court Institute.)