As reported in the local media former Judge Mark Ciavarella participated in an interview with The Guardain, a British publication. It is amazing what he had to say.
Though he pleaded guilty to conflict of interest and evasion of taxes, he insists that he took the money in all innocence, assuming it to be a legitimate "finder's fee" from the private company for help in building the detention centre. He denies sending children to custody in return for kickbacks. "Cash for kids? It never happened. People have jumped to conclusions - I didn't do any of these things."
Ciavarella claims the percentage of children he sentenced to custodial placements remained steady from 1996, when he was appointed to the court, until he stood down from it in 2008. Yet the facts suggest otherwise.
For the first two years of his term his rate of custodial sentencing was static at 4.5% of cases. In 1999 - shortly before he allegedly began the racket with Conahan, according to prosecutors - it suddenly shot up to 13.7%. By 2004 it had risen to up to 26% of all teenagers entering his court.
From the Post-Gazette
Records show that in 2004 -- Pennsylvania Child Care's first full year of operation -- Luzerne County spent $2.9 million to incarcerate juveniles at various detention centers and boot camps throughout the state, including Mr. Zappala's centers.
That's more than double the amount the county spent in 2002, the year before Pennsylvania Child Care opened. A breakdown of the amount spent by Luzerne County at each center where its juveniles were incarcerated was not immediately available.
From an article written by Mike Buffer at the CV on 4/30/2008
“I don’t have an obligation to get them a lawyer. That’s their business,” Ciavarella said. “I don’t know why that percentage is what is. … I am not going to spoon-feed people.”
No comments:
Post a Comment