[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6201820,"mediaKeyId","3788912-08ed450726d1e781121084fc27af9ce7","parentId",3788912,"title","Commission advances CASER (SGS NextGen) build, begins user testing; approves targeted consultant support","audioSeconds",5448,"startMs",1640000,"endMs",7088000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3788912-08ed450726d1e781121084fc27af9ce7&start=1640&end=7088","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3788912-08ed450726d1e781121084fc27af9ce7/thumbnail_1640000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6201820/Pennsylvania/Commission-advances-CASER-SGS-NextGen-build-begins-user-testing-approves-targeted-consultant-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201820-d1860244e22fa80296aacff0ac16a553/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158654&Signature=R-OVKvJa~iGM8aVywPfuX7MCk0vL95qh777jGHGI4hvNV0L6Z8XW1VGv1FRBnHxv4HiiER6JHdXd1CanwbC~C4LAcD8sd9vzs3HXeuoOOil2hb33HUb~YJzD29InEf5IDn4~mS5reBnrspwNr-QRueONGDVnYewTi88ZbFDs1~2gEh5cUEYFpYKT8HxxnQeXKwsYomz5if-slRZzoCu7c6Y0s11mpg-6Df4s2~8uHGGNCFvny6Aox-Yiu~3NskgL6z-pSG1Fi5spSrbtnBtSL43Pzp3Bm8b2IVInsOUbGbX0ajTx7ZyLLDY-~ECUcD8wkox~HpXpQlpVPoXgQqJqtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-12T15:04:13Z","article","The Commission on Sentencing reported development progress on CASER (the commission’s web-based case and sentencing exchange to replace SGS Web), described key design changes and user-acceptance testing, and confirmed the commission had approved a targeted consultant contract not to exceed $100,000 to supplement internal staff.

What staff reported: Senior developer Craig Briggs and other IT staff said the team completed the sentencing-guideline generation portion of the application and had begun building the sentence-submission features. Key usability improvements include simplified prior-record-score entry, a redesigned case-history page, improved CPCMS integration and enhanced logging around JNET communications. Staff said several real-world cases from the production system were replicated in the new application to validate results.

Consulting and staffing: the commission approved a not-to-exceed $100,000 service purchase contract with Carbon Creek to bring additional developer capacity to the CASER project. Staff said that one developer previously responsible for maintaining the legacy SGS application departed and that the Carbon Creek consultant will supplement the team while internal vacancies persist. Briggs said user-acceptance testing has begun with education and outreach staff and that formal training materials are being planned.

Why this matters: CASER will generate the guideline form judges and practitioners use at sentencing. Staff said the form has been redesigned to improve readability and that the education and outreach unit will solicit feedback from frequent users of the form before the project goes live.

Schedule and next steps: staff reported the project is on the current roadmap, will continue user acceptance testing and will develop training materials for end users. The IT team will maintain the legacy SGS Web application while CASER development continues; Carbon Creek will work under the newly approved contract to help keep CASER on schedule.

Ending: staff asked commissioners and frequent users to provide feedback on the new guideline form once the design review is circulated.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","PA Commission on Sentencing - June 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff reported progress on CASER (the replacement for SGS Web), described recent design and testing milestones, and noted a newly approved consultant contract to supplement internal IT staff while vacancies persist.","taxTitle","Commission on Sentencing, Other State Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Pennsylvania","taxId",30809,"location","Pennsylvania","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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6201825,"Commission on Sentencing previews draft recommendations for veterans study; urges early identification, cascade-of-care screening",1219,4313000,5532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3788912-08ed450726d1e781121084fc27af9ce7&start=4313&end=5532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3788912-08ed450726d1e781121084fc27af9ce7/thumbnail_4313000.jpg","/articles/6201825/Pennsylvania/Commission-on-Sentencing-previews-draft-recommendations-for-veterans-study-urges-early-identification-cascade-of-care-screening","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201825-4a22296d756b8d47fbcab1bda6cd22df/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158654&Signature=NzPrb5iBNe57dVGRLrAph~ViwMKufEQOcxrYFnMo3EPr71u5m8eFgR3q3~NDNxQJlCDvznbbeOdFgQquUvphUoRfUTrFyX8LEgD92JpZtsro3r0G-6sGGoWTHG6Gbv4hL43aJBQ~lUQPjzFH0mxw4RU2NYIdUKbi2FdpeNjVVYoGTepnQiT1tEBw24hADBQQpE3MIL8End4zF1PQvNIUFxA7BVGxao4GGa20b90ld6gQ67lQYPO-jtqrU18SdnDa~S4GT-2~WiaJPAHDjc2E4o1h3Q9Cx4PiBoMesNKD2CNubhAEp1WAjfdageIWL3~0DWVKT16EM51yKvbZp2krxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Commission on Sentencing presented progress on its work responding to Senate Resolution 196 (SR 196), which instructs the commission to study veterans in the criminal justice system. Staff said the final report is due to the General Assembly in September 2025 and that chapters are being drafted and shared with advisory committee members for feedback.

Why this matters: the report will recommend how courts and correctional agencies identify veterans earlier in case processing, how to screen and assess clinical need, and which treatment and program models to evaluate for efficacy. The commission said those recommendations could change screening, sentencing and treatment pathways for veterans across Pennsylvania.

What staff told commissioners: executive director Matt Wyman and deputy staff described the study’s mixed-methods approach — administrative data linkage, surveys (including wardens and president judges), and in-person site visits to Allegheny, Chester and Jefferson counties and to a Department of Corrections facility (SCI Houtzdale). Staff said they used a “cascade of care” framework to show how identification leads to screening, assessment and then treatment referrals.

Scale and operational implications: staff said veterans account for roughly 5.6% of individuals coming into the criminal justice system; in medium-class counties the staff estimate averages about 5,290 lower-court filings per year and roughly 300 filings a year involving a veteran (about 5–6 per week). Wyman said those counts suggest the extra operational burden to carry out screening and targeted clinical assessments is limited in scale—often one assessment every few days in many jurisdictions—and could in many places be managed without major staffing increases.

Preliminary recommendations described at the meeting include: (1) identify veteran status as early as possible in the case-processing pipeline and create a mechanized flag in criminal-justice data; (2) adopt the cascade-of-care model (screening → clinical assessment → targeted treatment) so clinical resources are used efficiently; (3) evaluate veterans treatment courts and other veteran-focused interventions with process, outcome and cost analyses; and (4) consider telehealth/video conferencing to expand access to assessment and treatment in rural areas.

Procedure and timeline: staff are preparing chapter drafts to share with advisory members and will provide the commission an executive summary and formal recommendations before the statutory due date. Wyman told members the commission will circulate chapters to stakeholders for targeted review and will seek the commission’s ratification of the final report at the September meeting.

Ending: staff asked commissioners to contact the executive director if they want individual draft chapters sent for review; no formal commission action was required at this meeting.","The commission outlined its approach and preliminary recommendations for the veterans study requested by Senate Resolution 196, emphasizing early identification of veterans in the criminal justice system, a screening-and-assessment “cascade of care,” and rigorous evaluation of veterans treatment programs.",{"_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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6201830,"Commission on Sentencing approves FY 2025–26 operating budget and several service contracts, flags reserve shortfall",715,578000,1293000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3788912-08ed450726d1e781121084fc27af9ce7&start=578&end=1293","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3788912-08ed450726d1e781121084fc27af9ce7/thumbnail_578000.jpg","/articles/6201830/Pennsylvania/Commission-on-Sentencing-approves-FY-202526-operating-budget-and-several-service-contracts-flags-reserve-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6201830-416a438da172def7704b2f2fac83265f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158654&Signature=K8iqUm0Ag4i65wi66GtL4yoykJbiMr5qCcxyF1zQWn0DlpBXisCNd6et0qkApqyVqtmo5ipn3pzDGRN0J9LU6xYn8ZO1UGpvKdeK5~K3-Ahr8gpQzPjlQ1AMRmctUH7c1oUzNE~Xp7QXCBuQNQshhJIlIRaV6crShtsBAwH2oPV-hn1hWVl0PObcgxscltjuxb6UmIojsDekL1SrD~J08i49xAz1COf9LJAosMKGAFG6bW7-ru5qBu4DgmcF7drI63208xcmXVzcPh5SgHqL-tZdLdd1iY2V6HOdBPymdhwZFBNCMKqLSd5jCjam95kOxURhHWZxnP0U4CE96FbsEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Commission on Sentencing approved a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget and multiple service purchase contracts at its quarterly meeting, while staff warned the commission that existing reserves could be nearly exhausted if requested funding is not received.

Commission members voted to approve the proposed operating budget for FY 2025–26 after staff described a plan that assumes a 3% staff salary increase, continuation of existing cost-savings measures and use of previously encumbered JRI funds for IT work. Executive Director Matt Wyman said the commission requested an operating appropriation of $3,400,000 from the legislature but that the draft operating budget carried a notional total of about $3,800,000 that includes work on web application development.

Why it matters: commissioners and staff said the commission’s appropriations have been flat-funded since 2019–20, forcing staff vacancies and one-time draws on reserve accounts. Wyman told the commission that expenditures this year were roughly $3.3–$3.4 million and that a shortfall of about $700,000 had been covered by drawing other reserve funds to zero; he said about $350,000 of reserves would remain unless new revenue is secured.

Most important facts and votes: the commission approved the FY 2025–26 operating budget after a motion (moved by DA Bible; seconded by Judge Daley) and the motion passed. Members also approved a service purchase contract with The Pennsylvania State University to handle payroll and related operating invoicing in the amount of $2,926,211 (motion by Judge McDermott; seconded by Professor Rego), a service contract for legal counsel with Professor Joseph Sabino Mystic in the amount of $50,000 (moved by Judge Marcico; seconded by Attorney Bakovic), and a service purchase contract with Carbon Creek not to exceed $100,000 for application development support (motion passed; mover/second recorded in the meeting).

Discussion and context: staff told the commission it began the fiscal year with an organizational chart showing 24 FTEs, reduced that allotment to 22 and is currently operating with 19 filled positions. Budgetary measures have included travel reductions, delayed equipment replacement, consolidation of publications and use of targeted consultants rather than large contracts. Wyman said the commission had encumbered JRI funds for rebuilding the Commission’s web application (SGS NextGen/CASER) and had spent roughly $275,000 to date on that effort.

Commissioners and legislative members reported active outreach to appropriate appropriations chairs and other lawmakers to press for the request. Representative Bonner and Senator Street were mentioned as having engaged with staff on budget support. Wyman said the commission had been able to turn legislative requests around quickly because of staff capacity and warned that flat funding would affect the office’s ability to meet those demands and complete large projects such as SR 196 work.

How the commission will proceed: staff flagged that if the legislature does not appropriate the requested amount the commission could use encumbered JRI funds to keep operations running but that doing so would delay development of the web-based application relied on by judges, probation and others. Wyman and other staff said they will continue legislative outreach and will bring further budget updates to members as the appropriations process proceeds.

Ending note: the meeting materials also noted multiple staff vacancies and an upcoming reappointment cycle for commissioners whose terms end Sept. 30, 2025; Wyman said letters to appointing authorities and attendance records will be distributed in the coming weeks.","At its quarterly meeting the Commission on Sentencing approved a proposed FY 2025–26 operating budget and multiple service contracts, while staff warned that flat appropriations and prior encumbrances could exhaust reserves within the coming fiscal year.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission advances CASER (SGS NextGen) build, begins user testing; approves targeted consultant support

Commission on Sentencing previews draft recommendations for veterans study; urges early identification, cascade-of-care screening

Commission on Sentencing approves FY 2025–26 operating budget and several service contracts, flags reserve shortfall