Centre County residents selected for jury duty can now give back to the county in a whole new way.
In a Friday news conference at the county courthouse, Centre County President Judge Thomas Kistler said that many residents who had served the county as jurors weren’t cashing their checks from the county for their time.
“It’s almost nuisance pay for a lot of people,” he said. Jurors are paid $9 a day for the first three days, which increases to $25 a day from the third day on. County Commissioner Steve Dershem added that he, like many others who had served jury duty, “felt kind of embarrassed” when cashing a $9 check.
Kistler said jurors will now have the option to save themselves a little time and hassle while supporting four local organizations. Jurors can chose either to “not burden the taxpayers” by returning the payment to the county, or they can donate it to the Centre County Child Access Center, the Children’s Advocacy Center, the Ethel Beaver Fund or the Centre Crest Resident Fund.
Child Access Center Executive Director Jamie Jones said the organization was started six years ago after a State College woman was murdered during a custody exchange. Donations through this program will help support the center’s mission of providing a safe and secure space for custody exchanges and child visitation.
The Children’s Advocacy Center is a recently formed organization that provides objective and sensitive investigation into reports of abuse and sexual violence against children, center director Kristina Taylor-Porter said. The center works with groups like the District Attorney’s office and Women’s Resource Center to help provide children physical and mental care in abuse cases.
Dana Keeler says Centre Crest is the county nursing home, and one of only three homes that accepts medical assistance. This new program will help fund more programs and activities for the residents, since most of the home’s budget goes toward operating expenses.
The Ethel Beaver fund was formed in 1948, and has helped brighten the lives foster children by paying for everything from dance lessons to sports equipment.
“We help pay for those little extras,” Julia Sprinkle of Centre County Children and Youth Services said of the fund. “We’re honored to be part of this new program.”
Kistler added jurors can request a receipt for their donation to use a tax deduction.
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