Adult Probation & Parole Department
455 W Hamilton Street
Allentown, Pa 18101-1614
(610) 782-3933 Fax (610) 770-6754
Department Programs and Projects
In 1996, in order to enhance Intermediate Punishment programming, the Department adopted a Restorative Justice philosophy, the basis of which was to develop competencies and accountability in the offenders under supervision. Efforts at improving established programming and developing new services continued in 1998.
Adult Literacy Project In 1994, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded the Department a grant to develop and implement literacy programming for needy offenders. This project continued for the fifth year in 1998. Clients are provided testing, referral, and educational instruction and advance at their own pace with instructor guidance and motivation. Instruction takes place in an on-site computer lab and the classroom. Life skills, pre-GED and GED level instruction is based on client testing.
Alcohol Highway Safety Project This project is Court-operated, supervised and administered by the department to deal with Driving Under the Influence offenders. The four components are: evaluation and screening via the Court Reporting Network Evaluation (CRN); operation of the Alcohol Highway Safe-Driving School; community information and education; assistance to law enforcement, government and court-related agencies to improve techniques to identify and apprehend problem alcohol and drug abusers who drive in Lehigh County.
The Department continued in its efforts to alert the public to the dangers of drinking and driving through presentations at local community organizations, agencies and schools. This included lectures, displays and distribution of information. The Department also coordinated efforts with area student organizations providing information to their fellow students. Public service announcements through local radio stations supplemented the department's efforts.
Fast Track and Guardian Interlock are options for offenders through the District Attorney's office. Subject to the normal conditions of ARD, license suspension periods are reduced. The Guardian Program involves the installation of a device on the vehicle, where detection of alcohol prohibits the vehicle from starting.
Community Work Service Project This program allows offenders to provide volunteer services to agencies and organizations as a condition of probation, Intermediate Punishment, parole, ARD, or in lieu of fines.
Competency/Accountability Programs The Department provides on-site instruction to offenders, based on needs areas assessed upon their assignment to supervision. The main component of the Department's Intermediate Punishment Restorative Sanctions, the following services were made available in 1998:
Financial Management - This is a joint effort between the Adult Probation Department, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Lehigh Valley, and the Department of Public Assistance. Offenders are instructed in budgeting, checking, and welfare reform.
Health Education Awareness - A cooperative effort between the Adult Probation Department and the Allentown Health Bureau in which various topics are presented to clients in weekly sessions; Tuberculosis, HIV Education, Universal Precautions/Hepatitis, First Aid and Safety, Heart Disease, and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Job Readiness Training - The Department provides education and training to clients in an effort to help them develop positive, self-directed strategies which are conducive to securing employment. Unemployed/under-employed clients who are under supervision are targeted for this program. Clients may move in and out depending on their job status. The program consists of on-going classes discussing such topics as: basic job hunting skills, how to look for job openings, job hunting steps, interviewing, resumes, etc.
Life Skills - This program was a new offering in 1998, involving a collaborative effort by the Adult Probation Department and the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Topics include Anger Management, Parenting and Stress Management.
Retail Theft Rehabilitation - Offenders attend this three-hour class, which attempts to deter offenders from committing subsequent acts, reinforcing merchants and consumers. The Court, Adult and Juvenile Probation, District Justices, and local merchants provide referrals to the class.
Substance Abuse Education - This is a joint effort between the Adult Probation Department and the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse providing evaluation and education to using and abusing offenders.
Electronic Monitoring The Department provides electronic monitoring supervision for those offenders as an alternative to incarceration. Offenders may be ordered to the program as an alternative to incarceration. Offenders may be ordered to the program as an intermediate punishment, as a condition of early release or furlough from prison, or as an intermediate graduated sanction for violation of community supervision requirements.
Clients are monitored by the active system where the offender wears an ankle bracelet, which gives a continuous signal. The probation officer carries a pager, providing twenty-four hour coverage, including weekends. The pager notifies the officer of any violations. The supervising probation officer makes field visits to the client's house in addition to the electronic monitoring. Drug testing is an important component of this program and the probation officer is certified to perform tests as warranted.
Intensive Drug Supervision Unit In-House Drug Testing Program The Department initiated an in-house drug testing program in 1988 to detect possible illegal drug use by clients. The Department uses the ONTRAK system, which is advantageous because clients know they can be tested by probation officers with immediate results in their presence. This has led many clients to admit to drug use prior to the testing procedure. Officers have the capability to test for the following: marijuana, cocaine, opiates, and alcohol. Tests are administered either in the field or in the office.
Restitution Collection Enhancement Program The Adult Probation Department and the Lehigh County Bureau of Criminal Collections jointly administer this project. A predictive dialing system with an automated message feature and a skiptrace database interface have been added to the County's current system. This enhances the ability to contact delinquent accounts. During idle time, including weekends, the system contacts clients in delinquent status with a pre-recorded message.
The implementation of this program, enables Lehigh County to collect greater amounts of restitution in shorter periods of time; increase the probability of an offender making full restitution to the victim and earlier in the supervision process; decrease the caseloads of probation officers, due to early dismissal of compliant offenders and a reduction of extended periods of supervision; and reduce the rate of incarceration for offenders ordered to pay restitution.
Specialized Program for Offenders in Rehabilitation and Education More commonly known as S.P.O.R.E., this program continues to provide services for the mentally ill and mentally retarded offenders. Probation officers and mental health workers jointly supervise clients. A psychiatrist and psychologist are available for consultations and evaluations.
Treatment Continuum Alternative Project This is a grant funded project which utilizes the resources of the Adult Probation Department, Treatment Trends, Inc. and TASC to administer a 34 month continuum of care to level 3 and 4 substance abusing offenders. The continuum is comprised of 6 months of residential treatment at Keenan House, followed by 4 months in a local halfway home environment. Upon release, the offender receives intensive outpatient, outpatient treatment, and is electronically monitored by the Adult Probation Department. This is then followed by two months under intensive probation supervision. It is at this point that a decision is made relative to the method of supervision for the remaining court-ordered 12 months of supervision.
Victim/Offender Mediation Project The program began in June, 1998. This program involves the face-to-face meetings of certain offenders and their victims to determine restitution, and bring closure to the case from the standpoint of the victim. Sessions are mediated by a trained probation officer after screening of cases and final disposition.
