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2019-2020Judicial Issue 1, 2019 newsletter of the administrative office of pa courts 2019-2020 Judicial Budget Request In 2018 Pennsylvania courts . saved more than reduced number of days in care by reduced number of $40 children in care by 951 million thousand in federal, state and 4,300 county dollars. utilized a social media outreach campaign to protection educate the public about orders. The campaign included digital ads on Facebook, Instagram and Google, pointing users to detailed step-by-step videos available in both English and Spanish on how to file PA COURTS protection orders. The campaign was federally funded by the STOP Grant program CAN HELP through the U.S Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women. facilitated designed and developed the 40,443 Guardianship Tracking System requests for interpreters. which protects vulnerable citizens by improving how the courts monitor legal guardians and simplifying the filing process. AOPConnected takes a look at the Unified Judicial System’s 2019-20 budget request to the legislative and executive branches. Saving Tax Dollars The judiciary is committed to Funding spending taxpayer dollars wisely, and has saved over $10 million in Sources the past year. Since 2009, fee revenue has been used $5.46 million to fund a portion of the judiciary’s annual Realignment of magisterial budget, currently about 13% of the total. district courts $3.4 million Benefits/salary Proposed 2019-20 Budget $371.5 $113.9 $1.29 million million million Contract savings State tax funds Fees $1.9 $440,000 million Other/personnel Total budget $487.3 Federal funds The judiciary receives about ½ of 1% of the state budget. Over the past 11 years, the judiciary has saved $102.4 million. 2 2 Senior Judge Assignments Fall A two-year pilot program began in July 2018 to review the use of senior judges Collections within the Courts of Common Pleas, using data from the Judicial Needs Assessment (JNA). Rise Comparing month-to-month data from 2017-2018, the period of July to October Collecting fines, fees, costs and saw a more than 12% decrease in the restitution is a priority for the judiciary – number of assignments. with $483 million collected in 2018 alone. These dollars flow back into the state The JNA is also available for use in budget and Pennsylvania communities, helping to determine whether county and to victims of crimes. judicial complements are appropriate. Senior judge assignments State ($239 million) saw a more than Local governments ($201 million) 12%decrease Victims of crime ($39 million) from July to October, 2017 to 2018. Airports, parking authorities, libraries, schools, etc. ($3.9 million) Over the past 10 years, the judiciary has collected $4.65 billion. 3 3 Problem-Solving Courts In 2017 . Among32,506 successful graduates, 1,576 hours of community service participants graduated successfully completed by problem-solving from problem-solving court programs. court participants. 541 378 of the participants discharged in 2017 became employed between improved their level of education between admission and discharge. time of admission and discharge. Breaking New Ground in Judicial Education Topics of judicial education: Pennsylvania judges Autism, Bail, attended Fairness and Access, Mental Health, 37,6 7 2 PFAs, Security, total hours of Self-Representation continuing education. and Trauma Chief Justice Thomas G. Saylor Justice Max Baer Justice Debra Todd Justice Christine Donohue Justice Kevin M. Dougherty Justice David N. Wecht Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy 4 Combating elder abuse in Pennsylvania The Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts’ latest Progress Report published in January details the efforts of the Advisory Council and the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts (OEJC) since the creation of the initial Elder Law Task Force in 2013. Of the 130 recommendations made in the Elder Law Task Force’s Report, 70 have been completed and 35 are (l to r) Judge Lois Murphy, Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper, Judge Paula Francisco Ott, Justice Debra Todd currently in progress. “This report is evidence of which at least one of the victims is age judges and court staff on elder abuse Pennsylvania’s strong commitment 60 or older. and exploitation, and has piloted to protecting its elders,” said training for family and lay guardians Additionally, the Supreme Court Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice about their powers, duties and approved a proposal to begin a pilot Debra Todd. “I am deeply grateful to responsibilities. all those who have contributed to the Elder Court Project in Philadelphia, Furthermore, educational material many successes detailed in the report, which included the creation of the including brochures and posters were and who are affecting real change Elder Justice & Civil Resource Center created by the OEJC and distributed to in the way that our commonwealth that opened in 2016. Through the all common pleas, magisterial district combats elder abuse.” Center, volunteer attorneys and advocates provide direct services and municipal courts. Enhanced judicial on legal issues as they relate to administration elders including training programs “The Advisory Council and OEJC are on landlord/tenant, mental health committed to increasing awareness One of the most notable achievements issues and financial exploitation. Since about the warning signs of elder abuse of the Advisory Council has been the opening, the center has provided and how to report it to help protect creation and implementation of the assistance to hundreds of elders and vulnerable elders in Pennsylvania,” said Guardianship Tracking System (GTS), their families. Director of the OEJC, Cherstin Hamel. which will allow the courts to better monitor active guardianships through a Education efforts Best practices uniform statewide process. As part of their continuing efforts Numerous and significant best practices were adopted and As of December, the GTS has to help educate judges, court staff, implemented that will help ensure the successfully launched in all counties attorneys, guardians, the public and protection of Pennsylvania’s elders statewide. others about the warning signs of elder abuse, the Advisory Council and the – including the holding of periodic Among the system’s numerous OEJC have worked closely with the hearings to monitor the status of a advantages are the ability for AOPC/Judicial Education team. guardianship, timely completion and guardians to file annual reports and filing of inventories and annual reports, inventories online, as well as the ability Together, they have developed and the provision of oral and written for judges to effectively communicate a conducted statewide training programs instructions to guardians at their time concern regarding a specific guardian for judges handling guardianship of appointment. in the form of a statewide alert. cases. In addition, the Advisory Council will be releasing (in early 2019) While there is still work to be done, this Another judicial automation two judicial resources – a Guardian report offers a moment of reflection on enhancement of note is the update Benchbook and an Elder Abuse the magnitude and significance of the to both the common pleas and Benchbook. steps that are being taken to better magisterial district judge case protect Pennsylvania’s rapidly growing management systems to track cases in The OEJC has also developed and population of elders. presented educational sessions for 5 Five universal truths Martial arts for the of human interaction mouth and mind People feel the need Treating people with dignity and respect 1 to be respected People would rather The AOPC held its second “Once I learned this, I sought be asked than told largest webinar to date information on verbal conflict 2 with over 200 employees de-escalation techniques People have a desire participating. The hour-long and verbal judo seemed 3 to know why webinar, “Verbal Judo” to be the best option for People prefer to have was led by Judicial District our audience,” Ramberger 4 options over threats Security Analyst, explained. Kyle People want to have Ramberger. a second chance Verbal judo provides 5 The webinar aimed to participants with the tools teach court staff how needed to defuse verbal to appropriately and aggression before it Instead of saying: effectively handle verbal escalates.” confrontation with the end “Come here!” goal of generating voluntary Additionally, the webinar Try saying: compliance. included common phrases that people should refrain Kyle Ramberger, Judicial District “Can we talk?” Ramberger explained from using, along with Security Analyst that the idea for the alternative phrases that webinar stemmed from could help defuse the Judicial Security’s review situation rather than escalate The webinar concluded with Instead of saying: of Pennsylvania Judicial it. a Q & A session, along with Incident Reporting System some security tips to use “Calm down!” (PAJIRS) reports, which The webinar was very well- when verbal judo doesn’t Try saying: indicated that the leading received and employees work, reminding court staff submitted positive feedback. security incident court staff to check their court duress “It’s going to experienced over the past A second verbal judo systems monthly and to five years was inappropriate webinar will be offered in report all security incidents be okay.” verbal conduct. early 2019. in PAJIRS. it is important for them to be able to Engaging with members of express the gender with which they identify. the transgender community However, this can only be accomplished when others understand Following a similar theme, the Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia, a and respect them – which is the AOPC recently held a “Transgender group that focuses on meeting the ultimate goal behind these types of Awareness” webinar that emphasized health and wellness needs of LGBTQ trainings. the importance of conveying respect communities. and openness to everyone – being Some of the advice that the webinar especially mindful of a person’s gender The webinar focused on training court gave court staff included: identity and expression.
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