O’Dell Seneca seeking retention on Washington bench
?Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca is facing a nonpartisan retention vote this year for her third 10-year term in office.
During a recent judicial candidates forum sponsored by the Washington County Bar Association and the League of Women Voters, Seneca provided a short overview of improvements in the court system over the past 10 years.
She has served as a county judge for the past 20 years and became president judge in 2004 upon the death of President Judge David Gilmore.
Seneca noted that the county added two new specialty courts in 2010 that have helped reduce prison overcrowding and created a more equitable system. Those specialties are mental health court for nonviolent offenders with mental health issues and a mortgage foreclosure program that gives homeowners at least 90 days protection from foreclosure to try to get their financial affairs in order.
The county also has treatment court that was started in 2004 for nonviolent offenders with addictions. In addition to drug treatment, offenders also may receive mental health services, job training, education and parenting assistance.
“We also want to start a veterans court for the same type of diversionary programs,” Seneca said.
Seneca said the county is working on a partnership with the Veterans Administration, United Way and other area agencies to best serve the needs of veterans.
Seneca said she also reactivated the Criminal Justice Advisory Board and established a county booking center.
“I learned that Washington County was the only county without a booking center or a way to get Megan’s Law information into the system,” Seneca said.
Under Megan’s Law, the state police must maintain a registry of known sex offenders.
The booking center uses the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and Computerized Photo Imaging Network system allowing for fingerprints to be instantly classified into the FBI Central Fingerprint Database and for booking photos to be entered into the Pennsylvania Statewide Criminal Photo Depository, according to Seneca’s 2010 annual report.