Pocono News Section

Luzerne Co. Called 'Worst Violator Of Youth Civil Rights'

Luzerne Co. Called 'Worst Violator Of Youth Civil Rights' - Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at 11:18PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Tuesday, Apr 29, 2008 @ 11:18pm EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- A Crestwood High School honor roll student is sent away for three months. Jessica Van Reeth's story exposes apparent problems with the Luzerne County Juvenile Court system. State records show more than half of the minors appearing before the judge did not have attorneys.

Luzerne County is dubbed the "worst violator of youth civil rights," according to the Juvenile Law Center of Philadelphia.

The Pa. Supreme Court has been petitioned by the center to release all juveniles who had no legal representation when they appeared before Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella.

Van Reeth says her life was ruined when she was sentenced to 90 days of confinement at a juvenile center. She told us she expected to receive a sentence of probation. The judge, instead, gave her a three-month term.

Van Reeth had no lawyer present at the hearing she says lasted 90 seconds. She says case workers discouraged her from obtaining legal counsel. "They were very straightforward about that fact, actually."

State records estimate the Luzerne County's alleged mishandling of juvenile cases is 10 times the average in Pennsylvania. The center calls it "egregious."

Calls to reach Judge Ciavarella Tuesday night were unsuccessful.