As the true depth of the Luzerne County Juvenile Justice System scandal comes to light it is clear that many of the families and children involved were denied their educational rights. Supported by a grant from the Public Welfare Foundation, the Advocacy Alliance and MHAPA sponsored non-public forums in Luzerne County.
Continue reading this entry »
Background
In 2007, eyes around the nation turned to Luzerne Country, PA, when the Juvenile Law Center (JLC) began investigating reports from youth and their families of harsh –and illegal– treatment during the adjudication process.
In what has been widely acknowledged as the worst juvenile justice scandal in US history, JLC investigators uncovered wide-spread pervasive greed and corruption by dozens of county officials at the expense of vulnerable young people and their families. JLC’s attorneys sought intervention from the PA Supreme Court, which ultimately intervened on the youths’ behalf. Read More>
Archive for March, 2010
Advocacy Alliance Hosts Luzerne County Forum on Educational Rights For Students in the Juvenile Justice System
Kudos to the Patriot News, Calls for State Ombudsman Office for Children
In a recent editorial, The Patriot News Editorial Board supports the idea of an Ombudsman Office for Children in Pennsylvania and encourages swift action on making it a reality, saying: “This is an issue that deserves serious attention. Other states have realized they need a children’s ombudsman office so abuses do not fall through the cracks. Pennsylvania should follow their lead.”