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County moves to expand paperless portal: online PFA filings, calendaring and interpreter tracking approved
Summary
Commissioners approved a contract addendum to add a pro se PFA filing module and authorized capital project changes to add calendaring and participant‑based interpreter tracking to the county’s paperless case-management system.
The Cumberland County Board of Commissioners approved May 23 upgrades to the county’s paperless case‑management system to allow pro se protection‑from‑abuse (PFA) electronic filings and to add a calendaring module plus participant‑based interpreter tracking.
Melissa Calvinelli and Jessica Pichey, who presented the items for the prothonotary’s office, said the pro se PFA module will allow litigants to prepare PDF petitions online from home, automatically populate proposed temporary orders and include Spanish‑English translation support. Calvinelli said the module will reduce handwritten errors and staff data‑entry work.
Commissioners also approved a capital project change order to fund a calendaring module and to upgrade interpreter tracking from case‑based to participant‑based, which will record language and specific parties requiring interpreters. Presenters said the combined changes aim to improve scheduling, reduce duplicate entries, and make it easier for attorneys and pro se filers to see civil calendars online.
Why it matters: Pro se PFA filings are currently handwritten and later retyped into the statewide PFA database (PFAD); presenters said the online module will prevent missing required fields, guide filers through conditional questions and allow pro se users to e‑file where appropriate. The calendaring and interpreter upgrades are intended to improve operational efficiency and help manage rising interpreter demand and costs.
Details and outreach: Presenters said domestic violence service agencies can still file directly to PFAD, and the pro se module is intended for litigants who do not use local service agencies or who need an alternative. The prothonotary’s office also plans outreach to law enforcement, libraries and community partners with QR codes and instruction to increase awareness of the online option.
Vote: After discussion about integration with the county’s current e‑filing and criminal‑case calendars, commissioners moved and seconded the contract and capital‑project changes; both measures passed by voice vote.
Next steps: The vendor will proceed with the module build and the county will monitor the rollout and any technical issues. The prothonotary’s office said it would coordinate training materials and outreach to domestic violence services and law enforcement to ensure the module’s availability and awareness.
