Blair County

Pennsylvania

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Declaration of Judicial Emergency - Notice of Complicance: Juvenile Facilities

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Overview

This document is a formal notice from the Court of Common Pleas in Blair County, Pennsylvania (24th Judicial District), dated April 9, 2020. It details the court's response to a directive from the Supreme Court regarding the safety of juvenile facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The notice outlines a meeting held on April 8, 2020, where stakeholders reviewed safety protocols and specific juvenile cases.

Meeting Details

On April 8, 2020, the court held a conference call with key stakeholders to review residential placements for juveniles. Attendees included:

  • The Chief of Blair County Juvenile Probation
  • The Deputy Chief of Blair County Juvenile Probation
  • The Assistant District Attorney assigned to juvenile cases
  • The Public Defender assigned to juvenile cases

Safety Protocols Reviewed

The parties reviewed COVID-19 protection procedures at three specific facilities: Outside In, the Summit Academy/New Outlook Academy, and Adelphoi Village. The following measures were confirmed as being in place:

  • Suspension of home passes.
  • Limiting visitors on campus.
  • Increased telephone call time and availability of FaceTime/Skype for children.
  • Strict hygiene instructions (hand washing, avoiding contact).
  • Implementation of handwashing and sanitizing stations.
  • Fogging dorms with disinfectant and wiping down surfaces daily.
  • Sick employees are required to stay home until no longer symptomatic.
  • Court appearances are facilitated via videoconference.

Case Status Updates

The court reviewed four petitions for release filed by the juvenile public defender:

  • Two petitions were already moot.
  • One petition will be withdrawn upon receipt of additional information.
  • One petition has been set for a hearing on April 15, 2020.

Court Findings

The court found that:

  • Blair County has a very low rate of juvenile placement.
  • Juvenile placement facilities utilized by the county are currently not taking new juveniles.
  • The efforts of local stakeholders are meeting the ongoing demands of the pandemic.

The court remains committed to reconvening meetings with stakeholders as needed. The document was signed by Elizabeth A. Doyle, P. J.

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