Former Luzerne County judge, Michael Conahan, had his sentence commuted by President Joe Biden, despite being convicted in the kids-for-cash scandal, where he sent juveniles to for-profit prisons for kickbacks. Conahan pleaded guilty to racketeering and accepted illegal payments in 2010. His co-conspirator, Judge Mark Ciavarella, was also involved and is serving a 28-year prison sentence.
The scandal involved shutting down a county-run juvenile detention center, sending kids to for-profit lockups, and resulted in thousands of juvenile convictions being overturned. Governor Josh Shapiro criticized Biden’s decision, stating that Conahan should be behind bars for his crimes, which had lasting effects on the community.
Shapiro emphasized that the power to grant clemency should be used carefully, considering factors like public safety and victims. He believed that the pain caused by the scandal, including children taking their own lives and families being torn apart, warranted a harsher punishment for Conahan. Despite being released to home confinement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Conahan is now a free man following the commutation of his sentence. Shapiro’s comments express disappointment in the decision to grant Conahan clemency, emphasizing the need for accountability for those responsible for the kids-for-cash scandal.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.