Community service benefits schools
Court fines and costs can result in a hefty bill, but Washington County has two programs that allow defendants to pay them off while helping municipalities, schools and nonprofit organizations.
Work done by those who are part of the Community Services and Furlough Into Service programs was recognized Thursday by the Washington County commissioners and Washington County Court, represented by Judge John DiSalle.
Kelley Zebrasky, principal of Washington Park Elementary School, said during a break in the commissioners’ meeting the programs, in terms of dollars, have saved the district “so much that I can’t even estimate, over the last eight years.”
The program’s tasks have primarily been painting, “in our Prexie colors,” Zebrasky said, plus landscaping, felling trees and, last year, improving the parking lot.
The project now in progress is the painting of an entryway.
“We’ve never had an issue or a breach of security,” Zebrasky said.
“They’re very well supervised, and they are not in the building when students are in school.”
The program participants also have painted lockers that have been taken off-site and reinstalled.
Frank Pryor, head baseball coach and physical education and driver’s education instructor at Bethlehem-Center High School, praised the program participants for their work at the stadium that has included painting.
He said Beth-Center is not a wealthy district, so it is grateful for any help.
“This was started about a year ago, and it’s still continuing,” Pryor said. “There’s a lot of work to be accomplished.”
Dr. Kathleen Miller, superintendent of First Love Christian Academy, Washington, also thanked Community Service Director Clifford Warnick, FITS Manager Joseph M. Bali and Rawl Harris, Community Service and FITS foreman.
“FITS and Community Service have done so much for us,” Miller said Friday. “They’re always very professional, and their work is really great. We need to look at some positive things that are going on.”
She also expressed her appreciation for the county’s Leadership Enhanced Attitude Development Educational Rehabilitation program that seeks to deter juvenile delinquency.
Youth have done lawn work and built bunk beds in housing for the academy’s 15 international students, and a few who have labored at the school have chosen to enroll.
In 2014, 644 adults and 49 juveniles participated in service projects through referrals from Common Pleas and magisterial district judges, completing 62,217 hours of service.
Of those hours, 59,124 were applied to fines and costs totaling $428,649. More than 200 nonprofits, municipalities and school districts received assistance through the Community Services and FITS programs supervised by court personnel.
The programs also provide training for defendants in child-support cases, with the aim of them being hired so they can pay for the needs of their children.
The Community Services program, part of the Probation Services Department of Washington County Court, allows adults to work off fines, fees and court costs at the state’s minimum wage, $7.25 per hour.
The FITS program allows nonviolent offenders incarcerated at the Washington County Jail, including those sentenced to weekends or work release, to work off fines at the same rate.
In addition, program participants pick up litter, spread mulch, cut grass and brush and perform small construction projects, scheduled well in advance.
Municipalities or groups interested in participating in the program can contact the Community Services program office in the Family Court Center at 724-250-6563.