[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6167570,"mediaKeyId","5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2","parentId",5410654,"title","District attorney announces local auto‑theft task force, ALPR camera rollout and concerns about juvenile female placements","audioSeconds",118,"startMs",3982605,"endMs",4101270,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2&start=3982&end=4101","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2/thumbnail_3982605.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6167570/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/District-attorney-announces-local-autotheft-task-force-ALPR-camera-rollout-and-concerns-about-juvenile-female-placements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167570-b411fd2bf17b8690bec54c6b23563ba9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770590630&Signature=ewRjyFdQ~pNUSXzQkTsYjke-4U56cAwA0MM9s4CaJzuFkOZ1K2I1HgZ8FgkNNmdgSA8L2pcPjAkAZ5OD-J7~ImtBHwgJh2uzUtmOIprbtJDoDTjqkiyPhUaS56Am0X2XpWjc7f1tV4AVwqiVD~etLfo2vupYkFTYvq-exwsUKGSrpnyUrw7i3HuBd4VgAI3A2eiB5sm3tR69t4K9Y7Sbnzohv8aRjaBt43E6IFuslJa3OUanPXh2qFaFeDdFX9NTLjRDTB1DorxygQkaCr3f9385w3Luc7bXfEvWTPqW56YWbw-CdYqr2Ag5ZDVBru2GK8KsLEWfgD7VB8Mu64szVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-07-17T08:26:48Z","article","District Attorney Baratta told the committee on July 16 that his office launched a local auto‑theft task force on July 1 that is partially grant‑funded and that the office is deploying license‑plate reader cameras and upgrading prosecution management systems to improve investigations and case tracking.

Baratta said the auto‑theft task force qualified for a grant that pays for half of a deputy district attorney position and centralizes auto‑theft investigations locally rather than relying on neighboring Lehigh County. He also described plans to install roughly 30 Flock Safety cameras (license‑plate readers) and to integrate commercial and institutional camera feeds to improve rapid vehicle identification in stolen‑vehicle and Amber alert situations. “Those cameras are really amazing with what they can do,” Baratta said.

The DA also described an internal upgrades plan for the office’s prosecutorial management system (PMS) to reduce duplicate data entry and to integrate criminal docket information into the DA office system for better inventory control.

Baratta raised juvenile placement concerns: he said Pennsylvania has few residential treatment facilities for girls, forcing some juveniles to be placed “south” (states such as Georgia, Tennessee or Alabama) where he questioned the quality of care. He urged local consideration of developing higher‑level local treatment capacity so the county would not routinely send violent young women far from families and courts.

Discussion vs. decisions: Baratta described operational changes already under way (auto‑theft task force began July 1; PMS and camera initiatives in progress). He expressed policy priorities (local juvenile treatment capacity) and sought support for technological and staffing investments; the committee did not take votes during his briefing.

Ending: committee members asked follow‑up questions about geographic placement of out‑of‑state residential facilities and encouraged continued coordination on cameras and task‑force staffing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 16th, Courts and Corrections Committee Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","District Attorney Baratta said a county auto‑theft task force began July 1, the office is deploying Flock Safety license‑plate readers and integrating case management systems, and he warned of scarce residential treatment options for violent juvenile females.","taxTitle","Northampton County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2939,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6167573,"Treatment courts report steady graduations and warn of mental‑health and funding shortfalls",643,2968595,3611850,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2&start=2968&end=3611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2/thumbnail_2968595.jpg","/articles/6167573/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Treatment-courts-report-steady-graduations-and-warn-of-mentalhealth-and-funding-shortfalls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167573-27d616ec2900024fc24d71c24627622a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770590630&Signature=NdWQDvjyCZ5sav5sZsYz3laLT7jlv0h0N982VwtE-18rVxqaRlfJdMbNNgrPtBmeH7pBIXZDf0mTNEWeUfJ0KKfBLURgtjVAZDtNuZAkR4K3uKh~mau2PsWv4X2APYUJI1o4YVg6AEtzAbdGgZ6FoBZZwrdrTehV2W7lAsEbTjlktTzoBcrME2prQaoMYoP6O7RPgVdbhZRaA2MV0bqy8c-KsD4QVV1q4qtbFBorFZlHWw8kwf~b9gGDAGyX60lcthdXRpPiqKfAt5-G55-X~6vamu4R-CcP~k3ujDEkQWtcEU7hp1-81E5sXB79FboHytZVVUjrQli9a4vW6WxXFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The county’s recovery, mental‑health and veterans treatment courts told the committee on July 16 that programs continue to graduate participants but face funding and community mental‑health resource constraints.

Stephanie Stewart, coordinator of Northampton County treatment courts, reported that recovery court currently has 25 active female and 40 active male participants and that 116 people have graduated from recovery court since 2015, with eight graduates so far in 2025. The mental‑health court has 11 female and 13 male participants and 118 total graduates since inception; the newly launched veterans court (2024) has 10 participants and will produce its first graduate next week.

Nut graf: coordinators said the courts deliver interdisciplinary teams from probation, the DA’s office, public defenders and county mental‑health agencies; they credited veteran mentors and community partners for program gains but urged more inpatient and intermediate mental‑health treatment capacity and funding flexibility. “Mental health resources in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are…woefully insufficient,” the coordinator said.

Program needs discussed included limited state grant opportunities (one Bureau of Justice Assistance grant cycle was pulled this year), the creation of a potential 501(c)(3) to solicit private funds, and difficulty establishing direct inpatient partnerships with hospitals because of statewide bed shortages. Stewart said many incentives used by the courts are nonfinancial but that some incentive programming — gift cards, transportation assistance, or fees for required analyses — would require funding.

Discussion vs. decisions: the briefing was informational. The coordinator requested continued county support and flagged grant funding and inpatient bed shortages as constraints. No formal motions or budget votes occurred in the meeting.

Ending: committee members praised the courts’ interdisciplinary teams and encouraged staff to bring specific funding requests when ready.","Recovery, mental‑health and newly created veterans treatment courts reported steady enrollments and graduations; coordinators said limited inpatient mental‑health capacity and shrinking grant opportunities are primary constraints.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6167576,"County judges and DA expand Impact Project diversion panels across schools and community",1533,2296425,3830210,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2&start=2296&end=3830","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2/thumbnail_2296425.jpg","/articles/6167576/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/County-judges-and-DA-expand-Impact-Project-diversion-panels-across-schools-and-community","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167576-35bfaaedb635e14474c8cb9caa35955f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770590630&Signature=bwMh7K0KVsAOUnVcaEAbeqW~y-J~kfzdL5U9uxtxK0XG619~0xl6YhPJErxx-3CrkTjdsBy0ePothQIDiSsLiAYKFt00mL4om-MjWZeNqlWK-WrXL3vRNLDOawOIzFKIKEOGdBO2PK68PNjyrq1jKZjDsniJEhIigtZI0ypXrSy~v8N6ozTYsCQcvtYHPuGnEuAPm-gs2gWN7h5ESLBnZ~YmMUXLsNcAWSh~Pp5oyzpXiN5jrQto7bs45NdHQ6KEfQ4CHRIlWvSewOHlLTNxZ3RPG6cfUpO9LkoICNpZgac8rWb0uRUZnNz5Ms2kVfzBL447skEWe1RfMDbwJFBY1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Court administration and the district attorney told the committee that the Impact Project — a diversion program for low‑level juvenile cases — has expanded and shown high completion rates in schools and the community.

The administrative juvenile judge explained that the program diverts pre‑petition cases vetted by the district attorney’s office and local justice panels to handle low‑level offenses informally rather than through formal juvenile court proceedings. “These are pre petition diversionary cases…they’re very minor cases that are referred either by school officials…or in the community,” the judge said.

District Attorney Baratta said the program had grown: school justice panels handled about 150 cases in the past year with roughly an 80% successful completion rate; community justice panels handled about 100 cases with similar success. He described two tracks — school‑based panels for middle‑school students and community panels for high‑school‑aged youths — and said referral sources include schools and police departments. “If you complete, no charges are filed,” Baratta said.

Nut graf: the Impact Project is intended to reduce formal court involvement for minor offenses and to remove barriers that minor records can present to education and employment. Court administration said the program has expanded to additional school districts and aims to increase volunteer justice panels.

Discussion vs. decisions: judges and the DA described program statistics, eligibility criteria and panel formation. The DA and court administration are working to expand panels countywide; the committee did not take a formal vote but was briefed on program outcomes and expansion plans.

Ending: officials noted the program’s use of consent decrees and other measures to prevent juveniles from acquiring enduring records when they successfully complete diversion programming.","Court administration and the district attorney described expansion and positive outcomes for the Impact Project diversion program, including school and community justice panels and high completion rates.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6167579,"Juvenile center cites chronic staffing shortages, proposes institutional license and reports rising out‑of‑county revenue",373,506365,880145,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2&start=506&end=880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2/thumbnail_506365.jpg","/articles/6167579/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Juvenile-center-cites-chronic-staffing-shortages-proposes-institutional-license-and-reports-rising-outofcounty-revenue","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167579-df8c137c60554ba262e1c0528141f5fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1770590630&Signature=FCUTFSUusOw3AjZ3BFKe7icg2jJlVf70Q68scIaN5L0Xggy7lcbZSCUuMwVuiSjRmsWJEajQMcZnCC2XHydE9e6uXx1~BXpW3XgYNnNefdj8RZlkHdYpNcLX4m7e8kUGNWYKprgylYcORIPGxzIQ93uTKXYGZCYshm2lSrPucNsYUgvyjf47viv3wCMxCoWCcHF~c1nfmVbOU6wo465rJRTowKZeNTqeLoCuNotfggK1hP1PXbcWoarmWMM2CMdst3QYlIEGG6TSKvbaKK1Xf7BqYjTIDa4pxOC1DeA9dCOnb~Vg8vwOuspfwnhk6XO6sE~g89yqDBlA5SwywiYJzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Juvenile Justice Center director told the committee on July 16 that staffing shortages continue to constrain operations and shape program decisions, even as the center pursues expanded contracted beds for other counties.

The director said the county created 13 assistant supervisor positions (converted from 14 youth-care-worker slots) and has kept the assistant-supervisor posts consistently filled, but that frontline youth-care-worker positions remain underfilled: the center currently has about 20 youth-care workers on staff of an authorized 43. “We currently have 17 kids in our detention unit, and out of those 17, 9 of them are from out of county,” the director said.

Nut graf: to address shifting needs, the center plans to decrease its boys community-based license from 24 beds to 12 and apply for an additional 12‑bed institutional license focused on juveniles with more severe charges, creating an institutional step between detention and community placement. The director described the change as a way to keep higher‑security youths closer to family and services while permitting transition to community beds if appropriate.

The juvenile center also reported nine contracted, guaranteed beds with other counties (three Lehigh, three Monroe, two Lackawanna and one Pike) that produce county revenue. The director said out‑of‑county revenue rose from about $509,000 in 2023 to just under $1 million in 2024, and that current receipts total $646,380 year to date with a projection of $1.4 million from contracted beds.

Facility upgrades and operations: the center completed a control center modernization in early June, replacing obsolete PLCs and moving from analog to digital control systems to enable future camera additions. Staff said existing cameras remain obsolete and recommended new cameras tied to the updated PLC system.

Discussion vs. decisions: the center presented its staffing metrics, the rationale for proposed licensure changes and revenue figures. The shift in licensure is a proposal and will require state licensing approvals; the committee did not take a formal vote on licensure during the meeting. The center asked county council support for pay increases, new cameras and making current contracted case managers county positions as retention measures.

Ending: officials flagged ongoing implementation risks if staffing and clinical capacity do not improve. The director noted the county still sometimes turns away two to three juvenile placements per day for safety or capacity reasons and said certain higher‑risk youths remain difficult to place elsewhere in the commonwealth.","Juvenile justice officials told the committee that staff vacancies remain high, the center plans to pursue an institutional license for higher‑risk boys while shrinking community‑based beds, and out‑of‑county contracted beds are projected to bring significant county revenue.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6167581,"Northampton corrections director reports hiring gains, low prison population and asks for two sergeants",242,32550,274695,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2&start=32&end=274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5410654-31869d25ec72c6797cf3a31b145c7ee2/thumbnail_32550.jpg","/articles/6167581/Northampton-County/Pennsylvania/Northampton-corrections-director-reports-hiring-gains-low-prison-population-and-asks-for-two-sergeants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167581-638a67a2863f6088e7c49543a4d08cd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770590630&Signature=H95-KA2aNmWVbW9r3LEtnKnwdswnambWuW4-Fr42aMhdNMaS2kREBAyzG03bbBQQCmW9mE3ufZp5MFNzBq2tccxXPRU7BDRmnvHClMoSSmamiCdPSOSk8Si2jrr8svUgnrboidt7fDlzKslmFaFIgaLlTJ8d2q0uiUdkIG2hDTes0l~ZNinJEr256WqGdP3HN8b7b6NOJGMYqMqTxS0MkHKOhHFBI6qzeMVoHd3vDmWOhTxr74q9pPlb4NDyIEhplZRlbzkJCZIAQLOZ-5w0h1RXac0Dasec~9KXKIEdXs-blqKTXpbC3oN60hq4XD9PpGXwU2g0vuJrGbJmBXzVGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The director of corrections told the County Courts & Corrections Committee on July 16 that recruitment and retention have improved over the past year and the county’s jail population is at a historic low. “We now have more of a correctional officer population that's more representative of our inmate population,” the director said, adding that the department hired 72 officers and retained 72% of those hires over the last year.

The director said the department implemented a workforce cultural improvement plan and contracted the consulting firm Intersect Alliance to interview staff and design training to address morale and retention. He reported a roughly 40% share of female correctional officers and said 66% of recent hires “identify as African American, Latino, or multiracial.”

The nut graf: the corrections director framed the changes as workforce and programming wins but asked the committee to consider two additional sergeant positions in the next budget to create frontline supervisory layers and reduce lieutenant burnout. “The sergeants would serve more as the frontline officers and that would help with identifying and rectifying any inmate issues as well as officer issues,” the director said.

In discussion, committee members and the director flagged remaining staffing and facilities needs. The department reported being short about 50 correctional officers as of the meeting and characterized staffing pressure as part of a national shortage. The director also confirmed outstanding capital needs: planned 2025 capital improvements for the prison have not begun and aging HVAC and cooling equipment require replacement. “They will eventually need to be replaced,” the director said of the air conditioning units, which failed during the recent heat wave.

The director described a new first-time in-prison career resource fair attended by 41 inmates and outside vendors offering reentry services, and said those community linkages are intended to reduce recidivism. He also described the department’s ICE release protocol: when the department determines an individual is to be released and ICE is notified, ICE has 48 hours to retrieve the person at the prison’s secure rear gate.

Discussion vs. decisions: the presentation was primarily an update and request. The director asked for two new sergeant positions in the next budget; the committee did not take a formal vote during this session. Committee members asked clarifying questions about staffing numbers and HVAC status. The director said recruitment gains and the workforce plan are in implementation, and that the sergeant request is a planned budget ask.

Ending: committee members praised improved representation among staff and noted the continued need to monitor staffing and capital funding as the department implements the cultural improvement plan and pursues recruitment and retention goals.","The county’s director of corrections told the Courts & Corrections Committee that recruitment and retention improved over the past year, prison population is at a historic low and the department seeks two additional sergeant positions and capital fixes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District attorney announces local auto‑theft task force, ALPR camera rollout and concerns about juvenile female placements

Treatment courts report steady graduations and warn of mental‑health and funding shortfalls

County judges and DA expand Impact Project diversion panels across schools and community

Juvenile center cites chronic staffing shortages, proposes institutional license and reports rising out‑of‑county revenue

Northampton corrections director reports hiring gains, low prison population and asks for two sergeants