The county commissioners Thursday approved a one-year $17,300 contract with JusticeText, a company that has developed discovery review software.
In criminal cases, discovery is the process where the prosecution and defense exchange information relevant to a case before trial. The goal is to ensure fairness by allowing both sides to assess the evidence and prepare arguments.
“The software allows us to view hours and hours of video discovery in a matter of minutes,” Chief Public Defender Michael Halkias told the commissioners. “It helps to break down and identify areas that attorneys should be looking at, hopefully saving time for them to process cases faster.”
Commissioner Chairperson Kelly Neiderer said the software makes use of artificial intelligence to point investigators in a productive direction. “This is fantastic,” she said.
“Hopefully, this will help streamline your office,” she told Halkias. “I know you have seen a significant increases in cases over the last few years.”
Money for the software is from an indigent defense grant available through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Last year was the first time the state had funded any type of defense for criminal defendants who are dealing with extreme poverty.
Since its start in May 2023, the Cumberland County Pre-Trial Services program has reduced recidivism and increased the court appearances of criminal defendants.
PLANNING GRANT
In other business, commissioners approved $14,000 in Cumberland County Plans Grant funding to Mechanicsburg Borough to complete an update of its comprehensive plan. The $14,000 is in addition to an initial county grant of $20,000 awarded in 2023, County Planner Kirk Stoner said.
Partway through the plan update, the consultant with the Urban Research and Development Co. suffered a stroke that prevented him from completing the work, Borough Manager Layne Thompson told the commissioners. “They went out of business right after that happened. We then worked with the second vendor on the vetted list.”
Cumberland County commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday to award a $113,340 to the Berry Dunn consulting firm to help staff prepare an updated county strategic plan.
While something of value from the original update was transferable, the switchover required a change in the scope of work that led to additional costs and the request for $14,000 more from the county grant program, Stoner said.
The program requires municipalities to match each grant dollar-for-dollar, so Mechanicsburg will have to commit a total of $34,000 toward the update.
RAIN GARDEN
Commissioners also approved a $3,713 contract with Silver Spring Township to repair a recently installed rain garden with Countywide Action Plan funding.
The rain garden has had issues with holding water greater than 72 hours after a storm, said Elizabeth Grant, county planning specialist. “There are concerns about standing water and that the plants won’t survive.”
The Penn State Extension office recently hired Natalie Marioni to serve as the full-time program coordinator and to work directly with the county planning office.
The solution involves the installation of pipes and a valve to control the volume of water. The Countywide Action Plan is meant to reduce sedimentation from stormwater run-off going into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
In other action, commissioners:
- Authorized staff to seek $930,792 in Election Integrity Grant Program funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development .
- Granted a request from the Sheriff’s Office to purchase a new $75,556 pickup truck to replace a vehicle that had a mechanical failure in 2024.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES NEWVILLE INVESTIGATION FINDINGS
Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormack announces charges filed against former Newville Borough Manager Fred Potzer during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. These include felony tampering with evidence and unauthorized use of an access device, as well as misdemeanor misapplying entrusted funds and tampering with records.
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