NEW CASTLE —
Two stories last week in the New Castle News offered contrasting views regarding criminal restitution.
And to a large extent, both accounts are accurate.
One came courtesy of an Associated Press report out of Harrisburg, outlining a state task force report on a massive backlog of restitution payments.
That report found that $780 million in restitution is owed throughout the commonwealth. In Lawrence County, that figure stands at nearly $19 million.
The task force’s main finding was that more can be done to collect this restitution. It recommended a variety of steps for doing so, ranging from attaching the wages of people who owe money to taking any lottery winnings that come their way.
The report made the possible solutions sound practical and methodical. Implementing them, and beefing up collections, ought to be a straightforward matter.
Not so fast. A somewhat different take on this problem emerged in another article in The News the same day, that included an interview with Lawrence County President Judge Dominick Motto. He sees restitution from a different perspective.
First, Motto pointed out, the nearly $19 million owed in the county goes back for generations. Much of this amount is tied to people who are dead.
But more practically, Motto noted that when it comes to paying restitution, many of the individuals in the court system have little capacity for doing so. They either have no income, or their incomes are so low that making payments poses real difficulties. In many instances, these individuals are drug users who can’t obtain regular employment.
The state task force wants to designate more resources toward pressuring these individuals to pay up, regardless of their incomes. But this raises the question of whether the state and counties would spend more in the collection process than would be gained in return.
Ideally, every dollar sought in restitution through the state court system would be collected. But realistically, that’s not going to happen.
However, we agree with the task force that every reasonable effort should be made to collect restitution. This money is owed to the victims of crime, not the government. A system that leaves victims who await restitution hanging and without satisfaction effectively victimizes them again.
We think there’s a social value — beyond the monetary one — of reminding perpetrators of crimes that they have wronged someone by insisting they make restitution. And those who have lost something gain more respect for the system when they see an honest attempt is being made to restore what was taken.
District Judges
Our Opinion: Having criminals pay what they owe can be difficult process
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On the Record: A listing of today’s police items and district judge reports
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of police items and district judge reports.
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Ellwood City club receives citation
An Ellwood City club has been cited for gambling activities. The Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement has cited the Ellwood City Saxon Club at 901 Millview St.
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Suspect in officer’s death jailed in county
Kylee Gwen Barletto was composed walking into court Monday until a television reporter pelted her with questions. Escorted by two state troopers, she was asked, “What do you have to say to the police officer’s family?” “I’m sorry,” she uttered as she was ushered into the court lobby. Then she burst into tears.
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Prosecutors granted stay in Jordan Brown decision
A hearing on the status of a boy accused in a 2009 fatal shooting has been canceled. The hearing on 15-year-old Jordan Brown’s detention had been planned for Lawrence County Court today, but was canceled after prosecutors requested, and received, a stay in the proceedings.
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Suspect in officer’s death is arraigned
Kylee Barletto was arraigned this morning by District Judge Jerry Cartwright. She is being lodged in the Lawrence County jail on $250,000 bond. Barletto, 25, is charged with homicide by vehicle and 14 other counts in the May 2 death of Shenango Township police officer William J. McCarthy IV.
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On the Record: A listing of today’s births, police items and district judge reports
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of district judge reports.
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On the Record: A listing of today’s births, district judge reports and sentences
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of district judge reports.
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On the Record: A listing of today’s district judge reports
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of district judge reports.
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On the Record: A listing of today’s births, police items and marriage licenses
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of births, district judge reports and marriage licenses.
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On the Record: A listing of today’s births, police items and district judge reports
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of births, district judge reports and sentences.
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