I'm sure this story is not an isolated incident and there are lots of people who are profiting on the basis of their power. In this case, it was the power to convict youth of crimes and have them sent to a facility to "treat" them - when in reality, the youth are just heads to count so the facility can get more money from the government.

Seems the criminal justice system, like our hospital system, has become a "for-profit" system and that means that fairness and objectivity go right out the window. There is a profit motive for putting youth and adults in prison now and it seems the judges are cashing in on that wave of profit.

Is there anything left that is not corrupted in this country?  I am starting to wonder.

In any case, I find this story interesting because recently, near where I live, a company called Vision Quest is applying to convert a building at the Norristown State Hospital into one of their "wilderness treatment facilities" to treat violent youth offenders - probably some of whom got sent there through corrupt judges taking kickbacks. How nice.

The Norristown Town Council is fighting it because the property is not zoned for PRISON use which is clearly what Vision Quest is. They are trying to stretch the truth and make it sound like Vision Quest is treating the youth medically but it is realy just a YOUTH PRISON. End of story.

I did some digging on Vison Quest when I heard that they were trying to commandeer this building at Norristown State Hospital, which borders on a small township park by the way. I found out some interesting stories regarding Vision Quest.

Here is one story from someone who went through the Vision Quest "program"

Here is another.

The facility/operation referred to in the original article is PA Child Care.

Oh.. this just in ... found this interesting comment regarding the first story of Elizabeth Habel. Found this comment from her father from 2006 on Topix.com:

Richard Habel
Drums, PA

Dec 18, 2006

alan j fletcher wrote:
I completely understand....my son went through the same thing, same judge he was 12 at the time, 1997,that so called judge sent him to st. mikes. he was beaten, mistreated ect..the state needs to investagate mark ciavarella,he is in the wrong job.I still remember the hearing at the courthouse,the judge takes the police into the court room,we were not allowed in. then 30 min. later we come in and all the police are sitting in the back of the court room laughing. the FIX was in.he locked up my son,i tried to speak to the judge,nothing doing...i watched as they handcuffed a 12 year old boy.glad i moved to california,we have rights here....not in pa

Hi; By going public with my situation with my daughter,I am getting 300 cases reviewed of the same nature with this judge. He seems to put them away and forget about them. This judge has way to much power given to him. I got my daughter back,but she was put on indefinite probation. When we went in front of him the last time he told my daughter he is not mad at her parents,but he commends us for being such hard fighters to get our daughter back. We would not stop,we started by contacting the govenor,then the legislators,then our local politicianers,and finally we went public with our story. This whole situation has made us very strong childs rights advocates. I agree fully that Judge Chiaverella should be investigated by the state. You are definitely right,parents do not have any rights when it comes to their kids and the juvenile justice system in Pennsylvania.

Hah.. looks like he got his wish.. only took THREE YEARS.