Carbon gets funds for courts
Two of Carbon County’s specialty courts are getting funding to help with operations.
On Thursday, the county commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts for a $10,500 discretionary grant for veterans treatment court and drug treatment court.
The money will be used to purchase a tablet, gift cards for the incentive part of the programs, pay officers additional hours and further fund transportation to and from court for the participants who need it.
Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said the two courts are going well and have seen positive outcomes to date. Veterans court had its first graduation last December and is poised to host its second graduating class in the near future.
Transportation has always been an issue with the programs.
In November 2017, the county approved an agreement with Lake Harmony Turismo LLC for a van that would pick up participants in need of transportation and take them to court on Wednesdays.
In addition, Lehigh Fire Company No. 1 in Lehighton and Towamensing Trails Golf Committee donated a combined $4,000 over the years to help cover transportation costs.
Both specialty courts are overseen by Judge Joseph Matika with close coordination with Rick Parsons, chief adult probation officer; Henry Desrosiers, director of Carbon County Veterans Affairs; and various other court, drug and alcohol and mental health agencies.
