PRINTER'S NO. 1216
No. 107 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY WILT, M. COHEN, JAMES, LAUGHLIN, PISTELLA,
READSHAW, ROSS, SHANER, THOMAS AND TIGUE, MARCH 20, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MARCH 20, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Calling for a cost and services study of the county juvenile
2 probation system by the Legislative Budget and Finance
3 Committee.
4 WHEREAS, County juvenile probation departments fill a
5 critical need in this Commonwealth's criminal justice system;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, County juvenile probation departments provide
8 specialized services and programs to the county courts,
9 including intake services, preadjudication and postadjudication
10 investigations, court processing for all delinquency cases,
11 submitting recommendations for disposition of cases,
12 coordination and implementation of drug and alcohol, mental
13 health and family counseling services and supervision of
14 juvenile offenders, including intensive and aftercare
15 supervision, house arrest with electronic monitoring, community
16 service and development of placement and treatment plans; and
17 WHEREAS, Juvenile probation officers follow guidelines set
18 forth under balanced and restorative justice principles,
1 competency development, accountability and community protection
2 along with victims' rights and needs; and
3 WHEREAS, Juvenile probation officers have a vital role in
4 responding to and preventing acts of delinquency while dealing
5 with delinquents, their families and victims regarding the
6 impact of criminal behavior and working towards better
7 citizenship; and
8 WHEREAS, Additional juvenile probation officers have been
9 employed to meet the increased demands of the system, with many
10 officers being hired for specialized positions and services; and
11 WHEREAS, Some specialized positions have been filled through
12 State grants from the Juvenile Court Judges' Commission and the
13 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency; and
14 WHEREAS, County juvenile probation officers have, at minimum,
15 a bachelor's degree requirement, but the average starting salary
16 remains far below that of the Pennsylvania State Police, State
17 parole agents and some local law enforcement agencies; therefore
18 be it
19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives call for the
20 Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to study the county
21 juvenile probation system and specifically to make
22 recommendations establishing salary levels and related county
23 costs to determine the impact on the quality and level of
24 program services offered through the county juvenile probation
25 system.
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