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January 29, 2009

Penn. Judges Accused of Taking Kickbacks for Jailing Youths in Private Prisons
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In Pennsylvania, two judges are being accused of taking millions of
dollars in bribes in return for placing youths in privately owned jails.
Luzerne County President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael
Conahan are said to have received $2.6 million for ensuring juvenile
suspects were jailed in prisons operated by the companies PA Child Care
and a sister company, Western PA Child Care. Some of the youths were
jailed over the objections of their probation officers. Philadelphia’s
Juvenile Law Center says it’s considering a class-action suit on behalf
of several jailed youths.



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