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Juvenile Law Center Investigates
In early 2007, the Juvenile Law Center investigaes improper sentencing in Luzurne County, Pennsylvania. Judge Mark Ciavarella is accused of accepting money from for-profit juvenile detention centers and giving children harsh sentences for small crimes to increase the number of kids at the jails. -
The Juvenile Law Center asks Supreme Court to investigate
The Juvenile Law Center asks the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to investigate the violation of youths' rights because a large number were appearing without proper counsel before Judge Mark Ciavarella. -
Ciavarella Leaves Office
Ciavarella admits he misinformed juveniles of their right to counsel and relieves himself of juvenile court duties. -
Guilty Plea
Judges Ciavarella and Michael Conahan plead guilty to accepting $2.8 million from for-profit juvenile detention centers. -
Plea Deal Rejected
A judge rejects Ciavarella and Conahan's plea deals because they continuously denied their crimes after pleading guilty. -
Indictment
Ciavarella and Conahan remove their guilty plea and are indicted by a federal grand jury. -
48 count indictment
Ciavarella and Conahan are indicted by a federal grand jury for racketeering, money laundering, fraud, extortion, federal tax violation and bribery, but are let go on $1 million bond. -
Ciavarella's sentences vacated
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated the sentences of all of Ciavarella's juvenile cases from 2003-2008 and ordered to expunge their records. -
Conviction
Ciavarella is convicted on 12 of the counts brought before him -
Ciavarella Sentencing
Ciavarella is sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. He is scheduled for release in 2035 when he is 84. -
Conahan Sentencing
Conahan was sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison after he plead guilty to one count of racketeering.
