Mission

The mission of the Job Court Program is to provide the opportunity for adult probationers and parolees sentenced to county supervision by the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas to stabilize their lives through employment and education.

We believe that employment and education are key elements in individual stability and lead to a safer, more prosperous community.

We believe that given the proper example, within a structure of intensive instruction, guidance, and court ordered supervision, individuals can become productive members of their own communities through employment and education.

Program Overview

The Job Court Program is designed to provide the opportunity for unemployed/underemployed Lancaster County probationers and parolees with the necessary skills to obtain and maintain employment, and to pursue a realistic education plan. The program is operated by a team consisting of a Common Pleas Court Judge, program supervisor, probation officers, and other Court-appointed personnel. The team works in tandem with clients to help stabilize their lives and achieve the program mission.

Eligibility Criteria

Phase I (Primary Supervision Begins)

Clients must be Lancaster County Court ordered adults on County supervision only who are chronically unemployed or underemployed. Participation on the part of the client must be voluntary, which they will indicate by personally completing an application requesting consideration for admission. The application is the first step in the process and can be obtained through their current probation officer, or by coming to the Office of Community Resources and completing an application. The client must have been on supervision for a minimum of six months prior to applying to the program, and must then have a minimum of eighteen months remaining on supervision. The client can have no unaddressed alcohol or drug issues, and there can not be a need for clients to be on a specialized caseload. (Special Offenders, Sex Offenders, Domestic Violence)

Once the client has expressed interest in the program by filling out an application, a supervisory team will review the application to determine if basic criteria have been met. If so, the client will be invited to attend a program orientation presentation. If the client decides they still want to proceed, they will be invited to a mandatory job skills class and be required to participate in an interview with a Job Court probation officer. If accepted, the client must agree to sign a Phase I contract.

Phase II (Primary supervision continued with possibility of incentives)

Client must positively participate in the program (Phase I) for a period of ninety to one-hundred eighty days and be employed for a minimum of thirty days.

Program Activities

Phase I

Clients will be under the primary supervision of the Job Court Program. They will participate in life stabilization activities including, but not limited to establishing financial plans, learning how to budget, learning how to attend to multiple issues that could create obstacles associated with obtaining or maintaining employment such as transportation, housing, childcare, etc. Clients will also be a partner in their own job search process. They will participate in job-related activities such as job readiness instruction, resume writing, mock interviewing, formalized skill assessment and remediation activities. The level of probation officer involvement depends on the level of client need.

***Continued positive participation could lead to Phase II acceptance which would make the client eligible for possible Court implemented incentives. Failure to comply would result in a referral to an Administrative Review Panel to determine if continued participation is appropriate or return to a general caseload is necessary.

Phase II

Acceptance into Phase II is facilitated by way of a change of condition hearing in front of the Job Court Judge. Primary supervision will continue, as well as continued support and stabilization activities. Phase II clients could also receive Court implemented incentives, specifically debt forgiveness and sentence reduction. These incentives however are solely based on the client’s positive participation in the program, and their ability to maintain employment. Probation/parole violation hearings and sentencing will occur as warranted, as well as Job Court dismissals and graduations.  

To Start the Process