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Government Corruption
Two former judges must pay $200 million after sending kids to prison for bribe money
2022-08-19
[JustTheNews] Former Pennsylvania judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan must pay a total of $206 million to roughly 300 people following a "cash-for-kids" scandal in which the pair sent children to for-profit prisons in exchange for financial compensation.

The victims received an award of $106 million in compensatory damages and another $100 million in punitive damages, per the News Agency that Dare Not be Named. U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner called the affair "a scandal of epic proportions."

"Ciavarella and Conahan abandoned their oath and breached the public trust," Conner wrote. "Their cruel and despicable actions victimized a vulnerable population of young people, many of whom were suffering from emotional issues and mental health concerns."

Children as young as 8 went to prison as part of the pair's efforts. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court threw out the convictions of over 2,300 children following the scheme, per the outlet.

Both men were sentenced to prison in 2011. Apart from the civil suit's damages, Ciavarella received 28 years in prison while Conahan got 17 years but was released in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and confined to house arrest.
Related:
Mark Ciavarella: 2009-09-12 Report: Pa. board told about judicial corruption
Related:
Michael Conahan: 2009-09-12 Report: Pa. board told about judicial corruption
Posted by:Skidmark

#6  I like the concept of those who create the harm are personally on the hook for damages and serving time. Hildabeest would still be in the slammer for Benghazi and destroying records and having an illegal server. and Slick for Waco and Ruby Ridge.
Posted by: JohnQC   2022-08-19 16:33  

#5  
I'd say confined them 2x for every year served by the 2,300 children they screwed over the civil rights of.

BTW: Since likely a significant portion of these were Black-American kids, why is the MSM, BLM, the REV's, SCLC and NAACP low key quite on this?

Is it because the judges ran and were elected on the Democratic ticket.

Posted by: NN2N1   2022-08-19 15:16  

#4  Works out to about $445K per prisoner after the lawyers get their 33% off the top. But, as mentioned above, that blood prolly ain't comin' outta them stones.
Posted by: M. Murcek   2022-08-19 14:31  

#3  I think the kids sent to prison should be given the option:
(1) Full payout
(2) Half payout and corrupt judge does the same prison time you did.
I suspect they'd grab (1) but I'm curious.
Posted by: ruprecht   2022-08-19 13:48  

#2  Nothing about how much the private prison system is on the hook for in compensation.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2022-08-19 13:34  

#1  I wouldn't think that they would have the $200M, but I understand the sentiment.
Posted by: Super Hose   2022-08-19 12:41  

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