[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6565638,"mediaKeyId","3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1","parentId",3216778,"title","Neighbors, defenders and prosecutors debate neighborhood wellness court pilot as early data show mixed uptake","audioSeconds",80,"startMs",6662000,"endMs",6742000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1&start=6662&end=6742","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1/thumbnail_6662000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6565638/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Neighbors-defenders-and-prosecutors-debate-neighborhood-wellness-court-pilot-as-early-data-show-mixed-uptake","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565638-61fd297bb625bd52eaef62d157b46431/orig.mp4?Expires=1775577174&Signature=bWnhquYna6041uLjPoP4d5~axeKE4Zzu45YEOm~HqUp~Yz53Np3Kj6Rjcpryi2t8LzLo7ZiYXa2pfPsznUdWwjFaxfcoM34nWU9BqGRfUL~MjiwFY6BwbzzwO60SHHlUbRXu8wrOv2APrgXIFFjCrY7-nevcx-jx2ZA9teXIgW9DCvFIglsWJUx2T~MjMGhtpQ17TNPBkVtWqt9DVfSvWvDbshZmbHPhmttuI45IQvbqna6aFeuOYQ9aSPula4FOtTKPBkTdDSBjxLK1kCdojaImP8uNwh~DDHaA3t6nwqg-3zKDBS4awBmfoGT9LHgcX8kPqURJYIOlxwr~~WbXrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Philadelphia City Council","date","2025-05-07T17:52:44.693Z","article","Councilmembers sought updates and legal clarity on the neighborhood wellness court pilot and on related diversion programs that operate at different stages in police and court processing.

What the numbers show: Andrew Pappas, managing director of pretrial programs for the Defender Association, reported operational counts to the Committee. “To date, there have been 72 unique arrests made for neighborhood wellness court,” Pappas said, clarifying the difference between arrest counts and unique individuals: “There have been 67 unique individuals who were arrested. ... There have been 8 individuals who rejected Wellness Court. 2 of them entered guilty pleas. 6 of them went to trial. Of the ones that went to trial, 4 were found guilty. There have been 4 cases to date that were marked as successful completions of wellness court. 1 was for a housing referral. 3 were for treatment. Of the 3 that were successful completions for treatment, 2 of those individuals made it to Riverview Wellness Village.”

Process and roles: Council members asked for the legal analysis that led to the pilot’s current design and whether the law department and judges had reviewed the court’s manual and procedures. The city solicitor’s office said it had advised the administration and that certain legal analyses had been conveyed confidentially; the solicitor offered to provide additional materials in writing or in the appropriate forum.

PAD vs. AMP: Witnesses explained the distinction between diversion pathways. Police‑assisted diversion (PAD) referrals typically do not result in an arrest and are handled by Philadelphia Police Department diversion officers and community providers. AMP (Accelerated Misdemeanor Program) applies to people already arrested and in court. District Attorney Larry Krasner said his office sees and participates in AMP cases and supports a range of diversion opportunities; he noted PAD referrals are usually handled by police prior to formal charging and that DA staff do not typically see PAD cases unless an arrest occurs.

Concerns and judicial review: Several councilmembers raised judicial, constitutional and operational concerns about the pilot; they said some judges paused or reviewed the program and requested a manual. City officials said the manual had been submitted to the courts and that additional training had been provided to police and field staff working on the pilot.

Ending: Councilmembers asked for written materials, the manual reviewed by the courts, and outcome metrics on completions, recidivism and placement outcomes. Defenders and court administrators said they would deliver detailed counts and follow‑up analyses.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of Whole: Budget Hearing 05-06-25 Morning","oneSentenceSummary","Councilmembers pressed witnesses on the neighborhood wellness court pilot, asking for legal analysis and data. Defender Association and managing staff described early counts—72 arrests/67 unique people, eight declined the program and four completions to date, two moving on to Riverview Wellness Village.","taxTitle","Philadelphia City, Philadelphia County , Pennsylvania","taxId",80615,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565642,"City solicitor outlines litigation, ordinances and code‑enforcement priorities; flags legal risk to tax exemptions",6010,745000,6755000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1&start=745&end=6755","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1/thumbnail_745000.jpg","/articles/6565642/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/City-solicitor-outlines-litigation-ordinances-and-codeenforcement-priorities-flags-legal-risk-to-tax-exemptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565642-a879bf7dda71790973dec2213635a26a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775577174&Signature=frqy7s96-cd7Si5-2~4kTL9na3AkqMCEqlTxVt5d5d6kGthDDv9Eh37QKLS~Vra6-cr6qBr6v6qlvr0BYk9rnCmqqaKsBH7Vhrb8g8F7GAVBZLiPU~ser-SDpACdyhhAXkeYh1KfDo79it7XXujVpSk6~pvsGgB08sdWpVosqE8Crrqy~Ooarvz0~pRwfWwe~2kH3ikMAzCZB4xyltdXEsGDPthRHOcrOu8ljQf~P4TR2RUgvYH3aSbBoZVDnzYStM0C366cFk-VgVI0nJCLl-o52Ksg5TRkPVVHiuk-8sZfON9hnc-2sIq33jEVI~49ClxTDIjSDOsTLSjyx0Bc0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Renee Garcia, the city solicitor, delivered the Law Department’s overview to the Committee of the Whole and fielded questions about affirmative litigation, public‑nuisance enforcement and legal risk tied to municipal tax exemptions.

Garcia said the law department is a “full‑service civil law firm” of roughly 400 people that handles labor and employment, real‑estate transactions, privacy, tax collection, affirmative litigation and public‑nuisance work. “It is a purpose driven department that we run, and we are committed to principles of equity,” she told council.

Affirmative litigation and gun‑related cases: Garcia described several active matters she said the city is defending or pursuing: ordinances addressing ghost guns and so‑called “switch” devices, a lost‑and‑stolen reporting ordinance for firearms, and litigation against certain dealers in a straw‑purchasing investigation. She said the city has been successful in portions of this work and continues to litigate preemption claims and other challenges.

Code, nuisance and short‑dumping enforcement: Garcia and law‑department staff said the department has handled thousands of nuisance and code matters in court and before boards in the current year. The law department said it is ramping up staffing for code and public‑nuisance enforcement and will use data tools to identify and pursue property owners who hide behind LLCs.

Tax exemptions and litigation risk: In response to questions about the $100,000 BERT‑exemption and a $2,000 use‑of‑occupancy exemption, Garcia said recent state court rulings and legal developments increase the city’s exposure if it continues particular exemptions. “The law has changed on uniformity, and it's getting more and more strict,” she said in response to council questions about the risk of continuing exemptions; she cited the “Zoll” matter as a warning and said continued exposure could create “hundreds of millions of dollars” in risk.

Why it matters: The Law Department’s enforcement and litigation priorities affect neighborhood blight and municipal revenue. Garcia told council that some enforcement actions require hearings and statutory due process and that the department is pursuing both compliance for smaller property owners and punitive judgments against repeat bad actors.

Ending: Garcia said the department will continue to advise the administration and council on legal risk, will ramp up nuisance and short‑dumping litigation with new hires and investigatory staff, and will provide council additional details as requested.","City Solicitor Renee Garcia testified on the Law Department’s FY2026 priorities—affirmative litigation, code and public nuisance enforcement, and defending local gun‑safety ordinances—and warned that maintaining certain tax exemptions carries significant legal and financial risk.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565648,"District attorney cites falling violent crime, urges funding for victim services and specialized units",2158,858000,3016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1&start=858&end=3016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1/thumbnail_858000.jpg","/articles/6565648/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/District-attorney-cites-falling-violent-crime-urges-funding-for-victim-services-and-specialized-units","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565648-2f3b88c665a3c9bafd733c246b5d407a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775577174&Signature=J8gOUI1euirktsqP4uQviRyffnx55Qvxwr8xlDCsSzVH0pNVV7ltjT4d4HbnwS-95uydLpx5E8wL6JF8-iz6H8OKw-IFa~DVF9ympGDX-hcC1o6OhdrO99MtBfriq7bCQYICE6uDfU91BJ8lBGk8v1vnIzqh~215lhaofU4P0p7fL8Dp2eVLKVFM2lnfQ7NlSnu1zg2d5YJoOXwJ3o-NZaAiVTzcKXI6269e~63-D8CdKaKCUwpR80YXfhLFyMi-5ukkOeYj~nyrNW9k0RqW2Ie6Xra3oE-yCCktLry-IwVOMYc93aWdwI~CFSUpvumoqWyC8m1FGc1AWfQxsA9lnA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Larry Krasner, the elected district attorney for Philadelphia, told the Committee of the Whole that multiple major crime categories have fallen and argued the city’s investments in specialized prosecution units and community partners have helped produce results.

Krasner summarized his office’s size and scope—more than 650 people including over 300 attorneys—and emphasized work with contracted victim‑services providers. He asked council to authorize $347,276 that would flow to nine contracted victim‑services organizations. “Please understand this is not our money. Okay? We're not getting any of this. This is their money,” Krasner said, adding the funds are for groups that “provide absolutely essential work.”

The numbers: Krasner gave a suite of year‑to‑date comparisons through midnight before the hearing: homicide was down “almost a 26% decline” from the prior year, shooting incidents down about 16.44%, shooting victims down about 11.34%, robbery with a gun down almost 23%, residential burglary down about 11%, and auto theft down roughly 5.29%. He said 15 of 18 categories tracked by the Police Department were down year‑over‑year.

Law‑enforcement partnerships and investigations: Krasner described joint operations with federal and local partners to dismantle shooting groups and to pursue straw‑purchasing networks; he said one straw‑purchasing probe has led to lawsuits against gun dealers and at least one dealer surrendering a license. He also noted settlements and litigation that have limited certain ghost‑gun sales and referenced Polymer80’s bankruptcy and restrictions on JST Supply.

Conviction integrity and rehabilitation: Krasner described the office’s conviction‑integrity work and the utility of diversion programs. He highlighted a diversion program for people illegally possessing guns that, he said, reduced recidivism “by 3 out of 4” when compared to prosecutions that resulted in convictions.

Why it matters: Krasner framed the testimony as a defense of continuing investment in public‑safety prevention, forensics and victim services. He cited the need for a state‑of‑the‑art forensic laboratory as a continuing priority and said specialized units created with council support have yielded measurable public‑safety improvements.

Ending: Krasner and councilmembers agreed to follow up on the specific pass‑through funding for victim services and on program evaluations to measure diversionary program outcomes. Krasner said the victim services pass‑through would not increase his office’s operating budget but would fund outside nonprofit providers that assist victims and witnesses in prosecutions.","District Attorney Larry Krasner told City Council violent crime indicators are down year‑over‑year, highlighted new units and prosecutions of gun traffickers, and requested modest pass‑through funding for contracted victim services.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6565651,"Defender Association urges $15 million boost, warns office underfunded and seeks immigration-defense staff",6008,391000,6399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1&start=391&end=6399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3216778-a097a4e2f2e9a1e27ac2ce8e8dfde4d1/thumbnail_391000.jpg","/articles/6565651/Philadelphia-City/Philadelphia-County/Pennsylvania/Defender-Association-urges-15-million-boost-warns-office-underfunded-and-seeks-immigration-defense-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6565651-63da92c0a539a5184b3832899e5853b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775577174&Signature=guiTEOiwA46ZC0EdIUNmAi~vvdjiohbJeT7eDrUN3JJASac8OuUl7MR~~2tAaFYtEnQjArgv8xDi2uPYwAAki8x38VPwSGL7kDBpja6h1-cGIiqaeLfwCpBs0hYlai52p4ecAfwjfsszcl8H~G2xxQx7-ErSX7sCLP1iQ89mW9fGB8JTTug74~0N1ZXjx4w6MNmD9G-AMHgAIof7PrAPsz2I-1dOP2~gOD7iZcLBvx24CIYjrKeDTc3TD4SHl3NfBkj4XGg3K~uuwQpTwdCpIDEhlkA0WHwBgO074fL0ltwTFFM-z1xmqgyOT0O0Y5xCyWymjBeadZ00KKYJ6z7~Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Keisha Hudson, chief defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, pressed City Council on the office’s fiscal 2026 request and asked for immediate steps to expand legal and social-service capacity.

Hudson told the Committee of the Whole that the association’s base city-funded budget is $66,000,000 and that she presented a separate $15,000,000 “transition” ask this budget cycle to expand staff, services and immigration representation. “We are critically underfunded,” Hudson said. She listed staffing and compensation shortfalls and said the association represents nearly 34,000 adults and about 2,900 children across dependency and delinquency matters last year.

Why it matters: The Defender Association provides constitutionally required indigent defense for people who cannot afford lawyers; Hudson argued the office’s funding and benefits lags—starting salaries and benefits—hamper recruitment and retention and limit services such as social-work‑led wraparound and juvenile reentry supports.

Hudson cited specific shortfalls to illustrate her request. “Starting salary for a public defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia is $64,000 a year. The starting salary at the district attorney’s office is $70,000 a year. And the starting salary at the law department is $79,000 a year,” she said. She told councilmembers the association has 530 defenders but only 29 social workers for its adult client population and five social workers assigned to juvenile delinquency clients. She also said the association paid about $330,000 in real estate taxes last year and receives no city benefits such as pensions or city‑paid healthcare.

Hudson described several program priorities that would use the requested funding: lower caseloads for dependency and juvenile attorneys, more social workers to provide reentry and wraparound services, expanded homicide representation, and an immigration-defense program to represent detained and non‑detained noncitizen clients in removal proceedings. On immigration defense, Hudson said the association had discussed taking on that work with national providers and proposed a start-up staff of 10 attorneys plus mitigation and administrative support if the city allocates funding. “Our proposal would have a staff of 10 lawyers,” she said. “I would have to post and and hire, but I could be up and running in a month.”

Council reaction and context: Council members from across the chamber expressed support and pressed for details. Several members, including Council President Kenyatta Johnson and Appropriations Chair Mark Squilla (identified in testimony), thanked Hudson for the briefing and asked for follow‑up materials. Multiple council members said the defender funding gap is a priority and raised the possibility of covering certain operating costs or benefits to create parity with city agencies.

Hudson said some program expansions already started with grant funding—the office has launched reentry practice work for adults and an education advocate position for dependent youth—but said those efforts are too small relative to need.

Ending: Hudson closed by repeating the request for $15,000,000 and asking council to approve the funding so the Defender Association can expand representation, social supports and immigration defense services as removals and client needs rise. The association’s written testimony and the CFO’s estimate of operating and benefits needs were submitted to council as part of the hearing record.","Keisha Hudson, chief defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia, told City Council the office needs $15 million in transitional funding, highlighted pay and staffing gaps compared with other city legal offices, and urged immediate funding to start immigration-defense services for detained and at‑risk clients.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Neighbors, defenders and prosecutors debate neighborhood wellness court pilot as early data show mixed uptake

City solicitor outlines litigation, ordinances and code‑enforcement priorities; flags legal risk to tax exemptions

District attorney cites falling violent crime, urges funding for victim services and specialized units

Defender Association urges $15 million boost, warns office underfunded and seeks immigration-defense staff