Program Description
The Franklin County Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) meets on the last Thursday of February, April, June, August and October at 12:00 pm. The CJAB also meets on the second Thursday of December at 12:00 pm. CJAB meetings are held at the Franklin County Courthouse, 157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA in the 3rd Floor Jury Assembly Room. Meetings are open to the public.
Regulation and Oversight
The Franklin County CJAB is overseen by the Franklin County Commissioners and the Franklin County Judges. The CJAB is chaired by Judge Richard Walsh and co-chaired by Commissioner Chair David Keller. Members of the CJAB include, among others, County Commissioners, County Judges, the County Administrator, District Attorney, Public Defender, Magisterial District Judge representative, Police representative, Sheriff, Warden, Human Services Administrator, Victim’s Rights Advocates, and community representatives. The CJAB has many subcommittees and workgroups that dedicate their time to the development and improvement of projects to improve the delivery of criminal justice in Franklin County.
2007-2009 Criminal Justice Advisory Board Grants & Initiatives
· Court Liaison Intervention Project—establishes a casework position that assists in providing diversion and home planning for pre-sentenced and sentenced inmates at the jail. [Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency]
· Day Reporting Center Project—Establishes a diversion program, day reporting, for non-violent offenders, after jail term or in lieu of a sentence for incarceration. [Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency]
· Central Booking—Provides for a central processing/intake unit at jail that holds offenders for (video) arraignment with the Magisterial District Judges. [Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency]
· Jail Diversion Project—To divert offenders with mental illness from the booking center/incarceration and link to specialized services through the court. [Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency]
· Mental Health Court Planning—Provides for the feasibility study and possible planning of a Franklin County mental health court in collaboration with the court and probation. [Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency]
· CJAB Initiatives-Pre-Trial & Corrections—Increased case flow in the justice system through DA’s and PD’s office. Also provides evaluation for DRC and training for law enforcement. [Funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency]
· Justice Assistance Grant 05—Mobile Units/Radios for Sheriff Office, digital camera and recorder for Public Defender’s Office. [Funded by the United States Department of Justice]
· Justice Assistance Grant 06—Radios for Sheriff Office and Chambersburg PD Video Equipment. [Funded by the United States Department of Justice]
· Justice Assistance Grant 07—Sheriff Radios and Chambersburg PD Video Equipment. [Funded by the United States Department of Justice]