The mission of the Northampton County Adult Probation Department, located in the Criminal Administration Building at 105 South Union Street, Easton, PA, is to provide protection to the community, while supervising offenders placed on county probation and parole.  The main goal is to produce law-abiding citizens within the community. 

The department has a total of 23 individuals on staff.  It is comprised of 11 line officers who are Probation Officer I’s, 6 specialty officers that are Probation Officer II’s, a deputy and a chief.  Additionally, there are 4 full time support staff and one part time support staff member.  The office serves the court through the completion of reports and the daily supervision of offenders.

Six of the above noted officers have Probation Officer II status for their specialization skills and programs.  There are two Intensive Officers supervising caseloads of high risk offenders; one officer processing ARD cases; one officer handling all parole plans at the Northampton County Prison; one officer coordinating the community work service program; and one officer who handles the GPS program.   The Deputy Chief assigns all cases within the department.  Additionally, he assists with administrative duties and supervises all Probation Officer I’s, who handle a majority of the active cases.  The Chief supervises the Probation Officer II’s, as well as support staff, and oversees all office activities.

Workload Statistics
As of December 31, 2008, probation officers handled the supervision of 2,697 cases.

In 2008, probation officers filed over 1200 probation violations.  These violations ranged from failure to pay court costs, to obtaining new criminal charges.  Over 500 cases had their probation/parole revoked by the Courts and offenders were incarcerated.  In response to the growing number of violations that involve drug addiction and mental health problems, the department is seeking options to assist the Court in developing incarceration alternatives.  Clients are referred to several community support agencies to assist in the reintegration process. 

Presentence Investigations
Presentence investigations are reports completed for the Court, after an individual has either been found guilty by a jury of his/her peers, or after they have entered a plea of guilty to a charge.  This report consists of a social and legal history of the defendant.  The completed report gives the Court a better understanding of the individual and the facts of the case, prior to imposing sentence and assists in the structuring of appropriate sentences.   In 2008, 212 presentence investigations were completed by the Northampton County Adult Probation Department. 

As 2009 progressed, the Adult Probation Department continued to see a rise in case numbers.   Efforts are being made to enhance the use of community resources to assist in the rehabilitation of offenders and curb recidivism.  Through joint efforts with the community, the department will be able to maintain safety as a primary focus while assisting offenders develop into productive citizens.

Probation and Parole Revocations/A.R.D. Review Hearings
During the 2007 calendar year the Northampton County Adult Probation Department conducted 881 Gagnon II violation hearings. The majority of these hearings were for technical violations, a total of 695 hearings or 79%, where the client failed to comply with court ordered requirements such as: drug and alcohol treatment, missed appointments, or other overt behaviors. The remaining violations were for obtaining new charges while on supervision, totaling 186 hearings or 21%. As a result of these hearings, 185 clients remained under court supervision and were directed into strict compliance while 696 individuals had their supervision revoked and were returned to prison to serve additional time on their sentences. Based on the entire caseload supervised by the Probation Department, approximately 2419 clients, about 28 percent are returned to prison for revocations.

Institutional Parole Officer
Christopher W. Davis served as the liaison officer at the Northampton County Prison. This job entails verification of parole plans and coordination and expedition of drug and alcohol assessment/conduct reports for presentence investigations. This position provides one source for sharing information between the prison and the paroling authorities. The process drastically improves accountability by having parolees assigned a parole officer prior to being released from the prison. These parolees report to the Adult Probation Department within a 72-hour period of release from prison.

In 2007, 22 inmates were paroled early accounting for 1888 bed days saved. At $70.00 per day (per bed), the county saved and estimated $132,160.00

Paroled Inmates
In 2007, 779 inmates were paroled from the Northampton County Prison and surrounding facilities. On average, 65 inmates were released per month, with December being the largest month having 79 inmates released during that month.

Statistical Analysis 2007
The statistical breakdown shows the type of crime committed by each parolee, and the results were as follows:

Parole Set-Backs
During 2007, the Adult Probation Department requested that the Court examine the institutional conduct of 3 inmates to determine whether they were qualified candidates for parole. The three major areas cited as cause for the denial parole at the inmate’s minimum date are positive test results for the use of alcohol or controlled substances, escape from Northampton County Prison Work Release Facility and/or assaultive behavior toward prison staff or other inmates.

In each sentence, the Court denied the inmate’s initial parole and ordered setbacks ranging from fourteen days to serving the entire maximum period of their sentence in prison.

Prison Reports for Presentence Investigations
During 2007, well over 100 conduct reports were submitted to the probation office to be used in the writing of presentence investigation reports. These reports focused on the institutional conduct of the inmate during his/her stay at the prison, ranging from misconducts to any rehabilitative programming in which the inmate may have participated. Also incorporated are any known gang affiliations. These reports aid the Court in determining the likelihood of rehabilitation at the time of sentencing.

Intensive Supervision Program
Arthur H. Frye, Jr. and Paul Singley supervise intense caseloads and work closely together as the intensive unit. These Probation Officer II’s are responsible for, but not limited to, sex offenders and mental health cases.

Intensive supervision offers the highest degree of monitoring to a defendant in the community. Offenders are placed under intensive supervision by the Court. Many of these offenders are convicted of sexual crimes, offenses that are assaultive in nature or may display mental health or mental retardation issues. This may also include those offenders with severe drug and alcohol issues. These clients are held to a very high level of accountability and are placed into treatment specific programs to assist in their problems while attempting to reside in the community. This type of supervision benefits the county in providing security for the community while simultaneously saving the costs of incarceration. The overall outcome of intensive supervision is an increase in community safety, client accountability and rehabilitation of a high risk population.

Intensive supervision has grown throughout the recent years. Both officers carry an average caseload of 40 clients. These clients are sentenced directly to the program by the Court. There are occasions where cases are upgraded from the line officers, however, this has been through the use of violation hearings, hence Court orders are completed.

With a growing number of sexual offenses, the intensive unit has developed a variety of tools to enhance supervision and treatment. The use of the polygraph is now a standard part of treatment. Polygraph testing assures honesty in treatment and in supervision. It serves to break down denial quickly, allowing counselors to expedite the progress in treatment. This also provides a check and balance system to assure that the offender, the treatment personnel and the probation officer are working from the same set of facts. Reading Specialists and Carol Herzon-Loney utilize this tool regularly. These programs are all acceptable sex offender treatment programs.

The intensive supervision unit also focuses on sex offenses that are Internet related, such as child pornography and child luring through chat rooms. Officers have been attending training sessions using software to search an offender’s computer, as well as “real-time” Internet monitoring through Internet Probation and Parole Control, Inc.

Intensive supervision clients sign rules that are sex offender specific. The rules limit their daily activities and set forth the required programs and level of participation that will be expected of them. As these clients can often times be manipulative, the use of specific rules which outline what is acceptable and what is not, provides these offenders with a set of absolute limits and requirements. These rules are very definitive, thereby preventing any chance for confusion as to what is expected of them. Again, this offers safety to the community, in that any breech of these rules may result in immediate incarceration and removal from the community.

Concerning mental health cases, the Intensive Unit utilizes the Adult Transitional Program through Northampton County Mental Health on a regular basis. Mike Gorzelic, who oversees the program, implements services such as medical assistance and makes immediate referrals for intensive case management within the mental health system. This has been a vital tool in the successful re-entry of mental health clients, in a sense, “bridging the gap” of an offenders’ release on parole and connection of services.

Community Work Service
The community work service program is directed by Probation Officer II, Terry Langen. Mr. Langen has been instrumental in the continued expansion of community work service operations. The following chart indicates Community Work Service hours completed for the year, by month:

Total completed hours = 17,249 hours worked for the year of 2007.

As required under the guidelines for the ARD/DUI program, first offenders accepted into this program must complete 25 hours of Community Work service within a period of six months. The Fast Track ARD/DUI program had twelve court lists last year, with each court list ranging from 50 to 105 individuals. For the year, a total of 873 individuals were accepted into this program. A total of 703 individuals successfully completed this requirement through agency or project placement. A total of 117 individuals failed to complete this requirement by failing to attend various assignments, at which time this officer notified the DUI office for enforcement accordingly. Based on these numbers, the ARD/DUI offenders had a success rate of 86% for their Community Work Service requirement. Currently, 334 individuals remain active under the ARD/DUI Community Work Service Program. A regional breakdown for these offenders is as follows:

The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas will regularly direct an individual to complete community work service hours as part of his/her special conditions at the time of sentencing. It should also be noted that local district magistrates as well as other court agencies request that this office enforce their sentences that require hours to be worked. For the year of 2007, 230 individuals have been ordered to complete community work service hours as part of their special conditions. A total of 153 individuals on probation, parole, or intermediate punishment have successfully completed this requirement and 55 individuals were unsuccessfully discharged from this program for their non-compliance. Therefore, the success rate for individuals sentenced by the Court is 74%. Individuals are removed from this program for receiving new charges, becoming incarcerated, or by failing to appear for programs or agency assignments as directed. Currently, 112 individuals remain active on this portion of the community work service caseload.

The Northampton County Adult Probation Department continues to offer individuals the opportunity to perform community work service hours in lieu of payment of costs and fines. Should an individual complete the required amount of hours as calculated by this office, monies are deducted at a rate of $8.00 for every hour worked on the defendant’s balance. As a condition of this program, all hours must be completed or no credit is given on the account balance. For the year of 2007, 6 defendants completed community work service hours in lieu of costs and fines, totaling $5,364.75. An additional 8 workers attempted to work off a total account balance of $10,650.23, however, these individuals were removed from the program either voluntarily, or for failing to complete assigned projects. Currently, 9 individuals are attempting to work off costs and fines, totaling $10,839.56.

ARD
The ARD Program was established for first time offenders of primarily misdemeanor type crimes, where upon successful completion of the program will result in the expungement of the criminal record. By placing these clients on the ARD Program, they can ultimately avoid a permanent criminal record, thus, avoid any further entrance into the criminal justice system. Many of these clients are placed into programs that are designed to correct any negative behavior. Some of the programming utilized by ARD offenders include: drug and alcohol counseling, random urine screens, anger management counseling, retail theft programming, parent counseling, community work service, marijuana awareness program (MAP), and domestic abuse/batterer’s counseling.

During the year 2007, 446 clients were placed on the ARD Program with 337 individuals successfully completing ARD Probation. Over $266,263.00 in court costs and restitution was collected in 2007 for the ARD Program. All clients involved in the ARD Program realize that this probation is a one time opportunity, and that should there be any subsequent offenses committed, ARD will not be an option. The program is well manned by Francis D. Toto, Probation Officer II.

Global Positioning System
The year 2007 was a busy year of utilizing the Global Positioning System (GPS) form of house arrest. This is a grant-funded position, which was filled by Marie D. Bartosh in July 2002. The addition of this program has offered the Court one more option during sentencing.

The utilization of a Global Positioning System for the purpose of house arrest is one of the most technologically advanced systems available. This form of house arrest goes beyond knowing when a person is home, to where a person is 24 hours a day. Through the use of a Portable Tracking Device (PTD), an offender can be tracked throughout the day, anywhere in the country. Offenders are required to carry the tracking device and wear an ankle bracelet. These devices, utilized together, communicate to three satellites, which calculate an offender’s location, accurate to within 18 feet. These measures are downloaded to a monitoring center, which then allows the probation officer to monitor the offender’s movements, constantly and in real time.

The greatest benefit to this form of technology, is the ability to establish “hot zones” in the community. These “hot zones” are designated areas in the community, such as a victim’s home or place of employment, from which the offender has been restricted. These areas are noted in the computer mapping system with distinct boundaries. Should an offender enter those boundaries an immediate notification is sent from the PTD to the monitoring center and to the probation officer. Police can be made aware of the situation and if warranted, the offender can be immediately incarcerated.

The cost of this program is $10.00 per day, paid by the offender. This assists the County by offering the Court a secure option to incarceration, lightening the burden of the prison and the cost of incarceration.

In 2007, 35 offenders were placed on this program. The offenses for which these defendants were sentenced were as follows:

sexual offenses

domestic violence offenses

drug offenses

arsons

other (i.e. property crimes)

It is anticipated that the number of offenders placed on this system will continue to grow. It offers a secure alternative to incarceration while placing costs on the offender, thereby saving the county housing and program costs.

House Arrest
In 2004, the house arrest program encountered a new provider to monitor offenders in this system. Pro-Tech replaced Tracking Systems in monitoring clients placed on house arrest. Pro-Tech also is the provider for the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) program, which thus far has shown outstanding results. House arrest was instituted in Northampton County in 1996. Thus far, the program has been very successful, with only a handful of clients needing to be incarcerated for failing to comply with all house arrest rules. Our office attributes several factors to that success, not the least of which is the selective nature of the court. It is believed that this program is appropriate for certain offenders and the court has been quite insightful in selecting those who warrant this type of sentence.

The house arrest program continues to save Northampton County Prison numerous bed dates and costs for this program are paid by the defendants. Thousands of dollars each year are saved, on these defendants that normally would be incarcerated.

Psychological Consultation
Two times per week, the Northampton County Adult Probation Department makes available to clients a Clinical Psychologist. This psychologist is Dr. Robert Wisser. Dr. Wisser is a very valued component of the adult staff. The contribution made by Dr. Wisser ranges from psychological evaluations to treatment. He has conducted anger management programs and parenting classes, as well as offered consultation with staff regarding defendants they supervise. His expertise is invaluable in detecting and treating mental health problems. He is expected to continue in such a capacity in the 2008 calendar year. In all of 2007, Dr. Wisser has been conducting psychological evaluations for presentence investigations and other court proceedings. He is now more involved in the criminal justice process, and is certainly a positive for all involved.

In-House Hearings
For the first time the Northampton County Adult Probation Department conducted in-house violation hearings in 2006. These continued to be used in 2007, with 19 such hearings being conducted from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. These hearings include the defendant, the defendant’s probation officer, and either the Deputy Chief or Chief Adult Probation Officer. This is to act as a final deterrent so that the defendant does not have to face an actual court hearing, and the possibility of incarceration for their violations. The results thus far have been favorable and it is hoped that further hearings of this nature will continue to deter defendants.

Intermediate Punishment Program
The Intermediate Punishment Program completed its twelfth year of implementation with the Northampton County Court system in October of 2007. This program continues to offer the Courts an alternative to incarceration. At sentencing, the defendant is placed under the supervision of the Northampton County Adult Probation Department and can be subjected to special conditions while on that supervision. These conditions may include electronic monitoring, GPS, work release, intensive supervision, drug testing, and community work service as mandated by the Court. At year’s end, there were over 150 offenders active in the Intermediate Punishment Program. This program has proved to be a much-needed tool for the Court. It has also helped to save thousands of dollars for the county that would have been spent on incarceration time for many of these defendants.

Court Divisions & Operations