Criminal justice advocates call for changes in Pennsylvania
CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Over 500 criminal justice advocates, court officials and state departments attended an annual conference in State College to discuss issues in the criminal justice system and ways to address them.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Conference held its annual two-day Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) Conference, and in attendance was the largest gathering of advocates since the conference's inception in 2007. Members of the court justice system, including Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers, met to discuss what they're seeing in Pennsylvania.
This year's conference had a theme of 'From Crisis to Collaboration: Building Resilient Justice Systems,' and worked to address the pressing challenges facing the justice and behavioral health systems. Sayers spoke with WTAJ and said that a lot of the discussions at this year's conference surrounded mental health and drug rehabilitation.
'One of the big things that we're seeing is an increase in mental health, mental health cases and how mental health is usually coinciding with drug addiction. There are different programs and specialty courts around the Commonwealth to deal or to help deal with those items,' Sayers said.
Central PA senator sends letter for information on committee that proposed SCI, boot camp closure
However, he also noted that Clearfield County is one of the counties that lacks specialty programs for those issues.
'So we don't have those specialty courts in Clearfield County to deal with these things. The hope is, is that, you know, hopefully next year we will get into implementing such programs in Clearfield County,' Sayers added.
Since Clearfield doesn't have specific programs, Sayers said that the criminal justice system does the best it can when it's presented with mental health cases. Adding that one thing the county has is the Quehanna Boot Camp.
Although the boot camp wasn't talked about during any of the conference's panels, it was still a topic of discussion among the attendees.
'I did have those conversations, and it was a discussion that the boot camp is the only type of program in the Department of Corrections to have what it has,' Sayers added.
Sayers previously stated that the boot camp provides prisoners structure, discipline, education and therapeutic techniques in order for them to be successful once released. Adding that the reincarceration rate from the program is just a little over 25%, which is 22% lower than the statewide rate.
However, despite the arguments about what the boot camp can provide, it's also facing problems. Currently, it's on the list of possible closures recommended by a committee with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
Sayers added that all those who brought up the possible closure were in agreement that they hope Governor Shapiro will change his mind.
During the conference, there were sessions that the PCCD hopes will provide those working in the criminal justice system with tools and strategies to build a more responsive justice system.
Here are some of the topics they discussed:
Behavioral health screening
Risk assessments,
Law enforcement collaboration
Crisis response strategies
Supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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