Luzerne County, Penn., Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael T. Conahan Plead Guilty to Fraud in Juvenile Detention Scheme

Both Luzerne County Judges Received Sentences of Seven Years in Federal Prison

The following report is the culmination of a two-year long investigation into Luzerne County PA judicial activities.

Two Luzerne County Judges yesterday pleaded guilty to federal charges that they received millions of dollars in kickbacks from two persons engaged in the operation and construction of juvenile detention facilities in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The guilty pleas of Judges Mark Ciavarella, Jr. and Michael T. Conahan resulted in seven year prison sentences for both men. The offenders must pay restitution and resign from their positions. The Pennsylvania state bar association is expected to immediately and permanently disbar both judges from the practice of law.

The investigation of kickbacks and fraud is still continuing and additional suspects could be arrested if shown to have participated in the kickback schemes which factored into the criminal complaint. Most of the kickbacks were received in the discharge of the judges' legal duties, particularly among youth offenders, who were oftentimes not granted the protections required by established law. The United State Supreme court has for many decades held that youthful offenders cannot be processed without benefit of counsel. Judges Ciavarella and Conahan summarily and routinely ordered that youths who had committed relatively minor offenses be sent to residential youth facilities.

The judges cashed in on the misfortunes of youthful defenders even when probation officers and counselors recommended lesser sanction against the youths. For monetary compensation said to be in the range of $2.6 million, the judges ruled that many youths who had committed minor offenses be warehoused at the newly constructed Pennsylvania Child Care Center in Pittston, Pa.