Nation's first Job Court will open here.
By Janet Kelley
Published Jul 13, 2006 13:01
How do you turn around someone’s life when they get out of jail?
Especially someone without education, skills or work experience.
A decent job, Deon Roth believes, can change everything.
Roth, director of Lancaster County’s Adult Probation & Parole Services, was introducing the new “Job Court’’ concept today to a gathering of community and county officials in the commissioners’ meeting room.
It won’t be easy, for either the parolees or those who supervise them, Roth knows. But in the long run, it could prevent people from going back to jail, provide labor for local businesses and help the community.
And in the end, it could change lives.
Job Court is not only a first for Lancaster County, but is believed to be a first for the entire country.
Roth said he came up with the concept based on the already-established Drug Court, which holds people with substance-abuse problems to certain and specific standards — helping them to get out of their addictions as well as jail.
Job Court will do the same thing, he said, with those who are unemployed or under trained.
Representatives of more than three dozen local employers met with Roth on Wednesday, expressing an interest in participating in the partnership with the county agency. Twice that number of employers already work with the probation and parole office on a regular basis.
At this point, most of the jobs are in the construction field, Roth said, but hopefully that will expand and diversify with the program.
But since the age group Job Court hopes to target is between 18 and 23, Roth said, “that’s a need we think we can fill.’’
Like Drug Court, participation in Job Court is voluntary and one judge, Judge David Workman, will handle the cases when the program begins next month.
It’s not for everyone, Roth says. But those who commit to the program will face consequences if they fail, including possible dismissal from the program or even a return to jail.
If there’s a problem, Roth said, the case workers may be able to identify and correct it faster than they could through normal legal channels.
Job Court officers will have a smaller and more intense caseload, Roth said, taking on the additional roles of guidance counselor, personal mentor and job coach.
While the parole officers may “shepherd them through the program,’’ offering suggestions and reminders, Roth said, “these are adults and they will be held accountable for their actions.’’
The process is divided into five levels. Pre-admission parole officers will meet with participants before they are released from prison, discussing skills, potential and goals.
After they are accepted into the program, they go into school, take skills classes, participate in work release or are placed in a job with or without electronic monitors.
Paroled from prison, they are placed on supervision with Job Court, completing various levels for a minimum of one year.
And in the end, Roth said, the goal is to have people “who not only successfully fulfilled their legal obligations but to have them become self-sufficient and productive members of the community.’’
With nearly 20 years of experience dealing with Lancaster County’s probation and parole agencies, Roth knows how much difference a job can make to someone on the edge.
“People with a job, a house, and a mortgage are less likely to commit crimes because they have a lot more to lose,’’ Roth said. “We want to give them the tools to become grounded...and this is a start.’’
