Night justice

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Police say inclement weather is the best deterrent to crime, and statistics support this. In summer when temperatures heat up, so too do tempers with shootings and murders climbing.

But when it’s pouring or snowing, people are not out and about like they are in nicer conditions. Hence, fewer residents on the streets means less chance of folks becoming a victim or offender.

When the first night of 17th District Nuisance Court took place Feb. 3 at the police station, 20th and Federal streets, and the area got hammered with a snow storm, the old rule held true, according to 17th District Sgt. John Massi who is heading up Nuisance Court in conjunction with Family Court.

"The snow storm hampered our efforts because not many people were hanging around outside that night," the sergeant said.

Three juveniles and 12 adults were rounded up for summary offenses, processed and given swift justice by Judge Daniel Anders. The offenders were summoned on citations issued during the week of Jan. 27 to Feb. 3.

Anders, a Family Court judge who hears mainly Department of Human Services cases, was responsible for launching Night Court at the 17th District, after moving to the area couple of months ago. A Common Pleas Court Judge assigned to Family Court, he has been volunteering his time with Night Court for the past year and has presided over sessions at 11th and Wharton for the 3rd and 4th Districts as well as Southwest Philly for the 12th District.

"When I moved to the 17th I inquired about an active court in that district and was told there wasn’t one so I offered my time and I volunteered to help the community work to make the neighborhood safer and reduce quality-of-life crimes that all our neighborhoods face," Anders told the Review. "As a judge I think it very important that judges are visible members of the community and stay in touch with communities across the city. What we do is very important work and I think we need to be aware of what impact our decisions have in the community. You’ll make a better judgement if you know what issues communities face."

A member of South of South Neighbors Association (SOSNA), Anders broached his idea with the group and its Town Watch (SoSo Watch) who loved the idea and brought it before the 17th District who the two groups have a close working relationship with, SOSNA chairman Mark Scott told the Review.

"He thought this was a great way to get involved in the area and was gracious and offered to do this," Scott from 15th and Federal streets said of the judge.

In addition to SOSNA and its Town Watch, Friends of the Julian Abele Park, 22nd and Montrose streets, are also behind Night Court that the 17th District was extrely willing to revive after a hiatus several years ago.

"It never really caught on until we had a judge that lived in the area and had a special interest in trying to make the area a little better for quality of living," Massi said.

The effort is dependent solely on judges like Anders who volunteer their time. If someone doesn’t step up to the plate, the sessions don’t last. Another is slated for 7 p.m. April 10, at which Anders will be presiding. Massi would like to hold it monthly and is hoping Family Court will locate a judge for March.

"From now on we’ll be having it whenever judges are willing to volunteer. We’re willing to have it as often as the judges request. Everything hinges on them," the sergeant said.

In Massi’s opinion, his district more than any other in the area needs Nuisance Court.

"The 17th District has the most violent crime in South Philly so it only makes sense that we have it in the 17th District," he said.

Nuisance Night Court was the brainchild of former Municipal Court Judge Seamus McCaffrey, now a Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge, who conceived the idea in 1996 to address quality-of-life issues. Night Court was and is still held at police districts throughout the city but presently the 17th is the only local one it operates.

"We’ve done it in various areas of the city and now we’ve brought it to the 17th District," Police Public Affairs Lt. Frank Vanore told the Review. "It’s effective because people get called to the carpet right away and it sends a message that not only are police concerned but it addresses quality of life issues in the community."

This month’s session began at 7 p.m. and lasted two hours, but it’s not uncommon for such proceedings to run longer depending on caseload, Massi said.

Scott attended the session and was pleased with the results.

"It was very smooth, very successful," he said.

The accused are generally a mix of those rounded up the night of court and hauled in and those given summary citations the week or so leading up to court and subpoenaed to appear. Massi prefers "making a sweep" as he calls it in the week leading up to court.

"Other districts usually do it night of. We try to do it a week before just to ensure we have some people for him [judge]. It could be the weather or a bad day and once word gets out that it’s Night Court that night you won’t have kids out there [to round up]," the sergeant explained.

For the debut session, Massi concentrated on two charges, open container and loitering — both breaking city ordinances and punishable by fine or community service. All of the offenders pled guilty and were issued community service by Anders; none got fines. Had any pled not guilty, they would have received a fine and community service, Massi said.

Ten hours was the average time given, while some got 20 to 30 hours. The sergeant got clearance from Anders to have the individuals fulfill their commitments in the district where they committed the offense.

"They are giving back to the community in the area they were arrested at," Massi said.

SOSNA, SoSo Town Watch, Friends of Julian Abele Park and St. Charles Borremeo Church, 22nd and Montrose streets, are the four organizations who will directly benefit from the service with the offenders having been given the choice of who they wanted to serve with sweeping, cleaning up trash and other tasks to be determined by the groups. Scott thinks it an excellent idea that the community benefits from the service.

"We kind of see a two-tiered benefit [with Night Court]: There is some increased contact with our police department and the community service will stay in our community. The guys who are committing these offenses in the community will be giving back to the community," Scott said.

Community organizations are free to make their presence known at Night Court and get involved by offering to host community service.

"I think it’s helpful to have representation of the community in the courtroom," Anders said. "Because the person who has been cited, I can say, ‘These are neighbors in your community who want to improve the community.’"

The judge also thinks such members can be mentors to those in need.

"Maybe help them find a job or something positive to do with their time other than what they were doing when they were cited," Anders said.