Media Resources
Highlighting Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Courts
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Pennsylvania Courts today released an infographic highlighting data from the state’s mental health courts. Mental health courts link key justice system officials with leaders in the mental health system to divert offenders with severe mental illness into a judicially-supervised program.
Underage Drinking Citations in Pennsylvania
Over the past five years, underage drinking citations statewide totaled 45,402. In Pennsylvania, an underage drinking citation is issued to anyone under the age of 21 who is caught possessing, consuming, transporting, purchasing or attempting to purchase any alcoholic beverage.
Cracking Down on Human Trafficking in Pennsylvania
Over the last five years, 1,096 human-trafficking offenses were charged statewide. Human Trafficking is a type of human rights abuse where people profit from the exploitation of others – mainly using force, fraud or coercion to manipulate victims into engaging in sex acts or labor/services in exchange for something of value.
Drug Delivery Resulting in Death Charges in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, a drug delivery resulting in death (DDRD) charge is issued to a person who intentionally administers, dispenses, delivers, gives, prescribes, sells or distributes any controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance, and another person dies as a result of using the substance.
Pennsylvania’s Veterans Treatment Courts Make a Difference for Veterans
Pennsylvania’s veteran population ranks fourth in the U.S. with over 800,000 veterans as of 2021. Since 2009, Pennsylvania’s Veterans Treatment Courts have been assisting veterans who are charged with crimes and are struggling with addiction, mental illness or other co-occurring disorders.
A closer look at Protection from Abuse Orders in Pennsylvania
In 2021, the number of new protection from abuse (PFA) orders filed statewide increased by 12 percent from 2020. A PFA is a civil court order to help protect victims of domestic violence, providing relief from abuse by an intimate partner, family or household member.