Author Topic: 6500 juvy convictions thrown out in PA  (Read 1680 times)

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Offline Anne Bonney

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6500 juvy convictions thrown out in PA
« on: October 30, 2009, 02:05:46 PM »
http://http://tinyurl.com/yk597rv

It was one of the most upsetting, egregious judicial corruption stories in recent memory. Two former Pennsylvania judges are awaiting trial for allegedly accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks from private detention facilities to convict juveniles and send them to be incarcerated.

To Pennsylvania's credit, though, the state is taking appropriate action to rectify the damage caused by these evil, greedy former judges -- Michael Conahan (left) and Mark Ciavarella (right). The state supreme court yesterday dismissed thousands of convictions heard by Ciavarella. A juvenile justice advocacy group said more than 6,500 juveniles were affected and most won't be retried.

"This is exactly the relief these kids needed," said Marsha Levick, the legal director of the Juvenile Law Center. "It's the most serious judicial corruption scandal in our history and the court took an extraordinary step in addressing it."

In another extraordinary step in the case, a federal judge in August overturned a plea bargain deal accepted by the two judges, who have admitted to accepting $2.8 million from the private prison operator. The men had pled guilty to fraud and tax evasion and were expecting a sentence somewhere around 87 months. The judge said the men hadn't accepted responsibility for their actions and tossed the guilty pleas. They're now awaiting trial on a 48-count indictment.

I have to stick to my guns in this case and say that seven years sounds like a sufficient sentence (just because hundreds of thousands of Americans are serving outsized, ineffective, overly harsh sentences doesn't mean we have to exact vengeance on the very guys who were handing down those sentences, although it is tempting). I would, however, like to see these guys convicted of something other than tax evasion.

And I hope yesterday decision to overturn convictions brings some healing to the thousands of families these men impacted through their greed. Juveniles who spent unnecessary time in detention won't get that time back, but they can now hopefully move on with their lives.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: 6500 juvy convictions thrown out in PA
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2009, 03:06:29 PM »
The company they sold the kids to also needs to have its officials indicted, at the highest levels, and the company sued into bankruptcy.

Everyone who participated in this and didn't turn state's evidence should be in jail.

This is what RICO was made for.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline AuntieEm2

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Re: 6500 juvy convictions thrown out in PA
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2009, 04:00:22 PM »
Quote
I would, however, like to see these guys convicted of something other than tax evasion.
Agreed. So important that we see a conviction for child endangerment or conspiracy or wrongful imprisonment--I'm not a prosecutor, but how can they not have evidence of these types of crimes?

They should have to serve their time at Benchmark, lol.

Quote
The company they sold the kids to also needs to have its officials indicted, at the highest levels, and the company sued into bankruptcy.
Yes! We haven't heard a peep about prosecuting the for-profit facilities.  

Auntie Em
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Anonymous

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Re: 6500 juvy convictions thrown out in PA
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2009, 02:58:36 PM »
Quote from: "Eliscu2"
http://http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/f/1310/10-30-2009/20091030060509_11.html
Pa. high court dismisses juvenile convictions
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press Writer

"We fully agree that, given the nature and extent of the taint, this Court simply cannot have confidence that any juvenile matter adjudicated by Ciavarella during this period was tried in a fair and impartial manner," the court wrote.


Speaking of taints, look who moved to PA last year:

http://www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/ ... ohn/Reuben
Quote from: "Plaxo"
John Reuben updated his profile Oct 2, 2008
New home town    Philadelphia
New interests    Working with my non-profit, music, running, an d building m...

About 40 mi. South of Allentown.  Maybe it is a coincidence, but I'll be interested to see which private teen prisons were involved.  If any of them are Aspen schools, I know who I'd put investigators onto.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

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Re: 6500 juvy convictions thrown out in PA
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2009, 03:02:06 PM »
Quote from: "Guest"
Quote from: "Eliscu2"
http://http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/f/1310/10-30-2009/20091030060509_11.html
Pa. high court dismisses juvenile convictions
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press Writer

"We fully agree that, given the nature and extent of the taint, this Court simply cannot have confidence that any juvenile matter adjudicated by Ciavarella during this period was tried in a fair and impartial manner," the court wrote.


Speaking of taints, look who moved to PA last year:

http://www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/ ... ohn/Reuben
Quote from: "Plaxo"
John Reuben updated his profile Oct 2, 2008
New home town    Philadelphia
New interests    Working with my non-profit, music, running, an d building m...

About 40 mi. South of Allentown.  Maybe it is a coincidence, but I'll be interested to see which private teen prisons were involved.  If any of them are Aspen schools, I know who I'd put investigators onto.


Oh, the weird irony.  The reporter in the article above - Michael Rubinkam.  Lose the "kam".
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »

Offline Anonymous

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Re: 6500 juvy convictions thrown out in PA
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2009, 03:40:56 AM »
Quote from: "Guest"
Quote from: "Eliscu2"
http://http://news.lp.findlaw.com/ap/f/1310/10-30-2009/20091030060509_11.html
Pa. high court dismisses juvenile convictions
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press Writer

"We fully agree that, given the nature and extent of the taint, this Court simply cannot have confidence that any juvenile matter adjudicated by Ciavarella during this period was tried in a fair and impartial manner," the court wrote.


Speaking of taints, look who moved to PA last year:

http://www.plaxo.com/directory/profile/ ... ohn/Reuben
Quote from: "Plaxo"
John Reuben updated his profile Oct 2, 2008
New home town    Philadelphia
New interests    Working with my non-profit, music, running, an d building m...

About 40 mi. South of Allentown.  Maybe it is a coincidence, but I'll be interested to see which private teen prisons were involved.  If any of them are Aspen schools, I know who I'd put investigators onto.

According to CRC Health/AEG:

http://google.brand.edgar-online.com/EF ... q-zAf8X5u7

Quote
For 2008, Pennsylvania facilities accounted for approximately 12.3% of our total revenue, Utah facility accounted for approximately 12.0% of our total revenue, our California facilities accounted for approximately 11.9% of our total revenue, our Arizona facilities accounted for approximately 11.6% of our total revenue, and our North Carolina facilities accounted for approximately 10.2% of our total revenue. If our treatment facilities in these states are adversely affected by changes in regulatory and economic conditions, our revenue and profitability may decline.

We'll have to wait and see who the guilty parties are, but bet on Aspen and maybe Reuben's move to Philly isn't such a coincidence.  AEG is desperate.  The rest of the CRC Annual Report is full of info Aspen and thewho don't want you to see.  Most notably, CRC is "highly leveraged", trying to restructure and admitting their programs are failing financially due to the potential hassles of licensing and regulations.

Quote from: "CRC"
Since our treatment programs and operations are regulated at federal, state and local levels, we could be affected by different regulatory changes in different regional markets. Increases in the costs of regulatory compliance and the risks of noncompliance may increase our operating costs, and we may not be able to recover these increased costs, which may adversely affect our results of operations and profitability.

Also, because many of the current laws and regulations are relatively new, we do not always have the benefit of significant regulatory or judicial interpretation of these laws and regulations. In the future, different interpretations or enforcement of these laws and regulations could subject our current or past practices to allegations of impropriety or illegality or could require us to make changes in our treatment facilities, equipment, personnel, services or capital expenditure programs. A determination that we have violated these laws, or the public announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations of these laws, could adversely affect our business and operating results.



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« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »