Elizabeth Township - Elizabeth Township residents have no reason to fear residents of a proposed alternative-housing and education facility for nonviolent offenders, a co-owner says.
"There are a lot of people in the jail who have technically committed a crime but don't belong behind bars," said Gary McDermott, co-owner of proposed CET Education Center, which would be built in the former Swiss Alpine Village shopping center. "The most common example given me are drunk-driving offenses. We all know someone, maybe a neighbor, who had one too many. Is that person a criminal⢠Technically, yes. He works, has a family — does he belong behind bars?"
McDermott said security is a priority for him as well as the community. He said electronic surveillance and guards would be used.
"If a door or window opens, we will know instantly," McDermott said. "No one is going to drift around or come out for a smoke. How long do you think the courts are going to allow these people to drift around the community and allow us to stay in business?"
In November, the township Zoning Hearing Board denied an occupancy permit to CET Education Center on the grounds that it did not meet the permitted use in the area.
McDermott and Tom Wagner submitted the application on behalf of WCS Investments Inc. of Export. The parties have appealed the denial, and a decision is expected March 26.
The proposed center would offer alternative-housing and education to nonviolent offenders sentenced to serve time with or without work-release privileges. Several township residents have argued against allowing the facility to open.
Lori Montarti and Patty Oeler of Elizabeth said such a facility does not belong in the middle of a residential area and close to schools.
"Teachers are busy enough as it is. They shouldn't have to worry about safety because this facility would be so close to both Central Elementary, with more than 400 students, and the middle school, with about 700 students," Oeler said.
Oeler said a fence would make her feel safer and more willing to accept the development.
McDermott said if all it took was a fence to settle the opposition, one could be installed.
"A fence is no problem," he said. "But we thought the facility would be more offensive to the public with a fence. I don't want the type of institution that would require a fence, and I don't believe we need one for the program we're proposing."
McDermott, a former Allegheny County deputy sheriff who will oversee operation of the facility, said the idea for the program surfaced in Summer 2000.
"It came to my attention that the courts were very interested in something unique to help ease the burden of the jail population," he said.
McDermott said a part of the facility would be used for those convicted of drunken driving who are ordered to be incarcerated for a short stay — for example, 48 hours to be served on weekends.
"Instead of going to the county jail, they would come here," he said. "Basically, they would be locked up and not sitting outside in the green grass. It's a punishment. They may be required to view a film or two while in our care, and the materials would be supplied by professionals who work in the related field."
According to McDermott, the facility would not be involved with anyone having more than two drunken-driving convictions.
"It's for people who are technically criminals, but they can be anyone in the community," he said. "That's the kind of people we want in this facility."
Beyond housing people sentenced to brief sentences, the center would serve the court system by providing training and education to those who need to find employment, McDermott said.
"There are those who are in the penal system that want to change their lives to ensure they don't return to the system," he said. "We want to help by providing job training."
The program also would provide basic skills, such as appropriate dress and conduct for a job interview, he said. The center also would provide basic computer skills, as well as classes for those who need to earn a GED certificate.
"Whatever it takes to get them into the job market, to help them become productive and change their lives is what we want to offer," McDermott said.
He used the example of inmates whose parents might have been in the system.
"Sometimes it's just one generation after another," he said. "And they are locked into this type of environment. Throughout the country, this chain has to be broken. The jails are not set up for these types of people. They were set up for the violent offenders."
McDermott emphasized that drug offenders would not qualify for the program. He said random drug testing would be done.
"If we can do something to change the way things are being done now, we want to try," he said. "We will not — I emphasize not — deal with any violent offenders. We want people who are willing to work to change their lives.
"The type of facility we propose, to our knowledge, has not been done anywhere in the area — maybe even the East Coast," McDermott said. "We're not sure if it can be done."
The former deputy sheriff said the center would start with as few as 10 inmates to test the program. An advisory board of criminal-court judges, representatives from the sheriff's department and prison board, as well as community residents, would be established.
"We're asking for citizens from Elizabeth Township to participate," he said. "Believe me, if we can't do it right, we're not going to continue it. I have no interest in having a halfway house. We ask the residents to give us six months and let us show them what we can do."
McDermott acknowledged that a former employee misled residents about the center when the proposal first was made public.
"We were completely misled, along with the residents, by our former employee," he said. "I think if the people would give us an opportunity, I don't think they would ask us to leave. I believe we can work together."
