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Open Panel Discussion -
Luzerne County Treatment Court
Joe Sklarosky, Judge &
Staff from the Luzerne County Treatment Court
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Overview
Drug courts are problem-solving courts that take a public health approach to criminal offending using a specialized model in which the judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, social service, and treatment communities work together to help addicted offenders into long-term recovery. Instead of punishment, their purpose is to address one of the underlying drivers of crime and, in the process, reduce the use of imprisonment, potentially leading to substantial cost-savings. Drug courts aim to do this by incentivizing or mandating offenders into addiction treatment combined with frequent drug testing and regular monitoring by the judge.
Biography
Joe Sklarosky, Judge
Judge Joe Sklarosky Jr. was raised in West Wyoming and Plains Township in Luzerne County. He and his wife, Attorney Megan Kennedy, live in Mountaintop with their four children: Katie, Jack, Matthew, and Norah.
Joe is a graduate of Coughlin High School and King’s College (summa cum laude) both located in Wilkes-Barre. He received his Juris Doctorate (cum laude) at Widener Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg.
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Joe was admitted to the bar in November of 1994, and in addition to practicing law with his father, Joe Sr., he served for 16 years as an Assistant Public Defender in Luzerne County.
In 2011, Joe was nominated by both Democrat and Republican voters and elected to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. He is currently assigned to the Criminal Trial Division and since 2014 has been the Supervising Judge over the Specialty and Treatment courts. In addition, he presides over the Veterans’ Court Track which began in January 2017.
Judge Sklarosky has served on the boards of directors of several non-profit community organizations such as Ruth’s Place, Habitat for Humanity, and the Hazleton Integration Project.
Presentation Slides
Coming soon.
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