Lehigh County Lack Transparency!
Join in person or register on Zoom for the LC meeting on April 22, where they’ll go over the contract for building the Juvenile Detention Center—a project set to cost taxpayers $2.6 million each year
Happy Friday - Jumaah Mubarak - Sof haShavua tov!
In their op-ed for the Morning Call, Ed Angelo and Dr. Stephen Mory argue that putting the proposed juvenile detention center in a remote county is a bad idea.
https://www.mcall.com/2026/04/15/opinion-lehigh-valley-juvenile-offender-detention-center-a-harmful-plan/
Dear Friend:
With barely any research or thoughtful consideration, county officials are on the verge of approving a 20-year deal to send kids in the Juvenile Justice system all the way to Reading—the Berks County Regional Detention Plan—more than an hour from Allentown and even farther for those in the more remote areas of Lehigh County. As a taxpayer, you’ll be footing the bill for this poor choice for decades.
Research shows that this kind of action can be seriously harmful to children aged 10 to 17. Sending them to be incarcerated in Reading, far from their parents and families who can’t visit, is not only cruel but also makes them less safe and more vulnerable to abuse and bullying from other kids.
We’re asking the county to review every part of this plan and explore other options for the small group of kids currently in custody due to their behavior.
To be clear, we’re not asking the county for a flat “no” at this moment. We’re asking them to “slow” things down — to take the time to thoroughly review every aspect of the Berks Plan that could potentially harm our children, most of whom are from low-income families, and to think about whether it’s truly cost-effective.
We’re asking you to take one or possibly two actions:
Write an email to the following officials to express opposition:
Lehigh County Commissioners all can be reached by email with this address:
commissionersoffice@lehighcounty.org.
President Judge Douglas Reichley: douglasreichley@lehighcounty.org
Chief Juvenile Probation Kevin Miller: kevinmiller@lehighcounty.org
District Attorney Gavin Holihan: gavinholihan@lehighcounty.org
Chief Public Defender Kimberly Makoul: kimberlymakoul@lehighcounty.org
2. Join the Commissioners’ meeting when the vote takes place at the Lehigh County Administration Building, 17 S. 7th Street, Allentown.
Please take steps to stop this expensive plan that taxpayers will be funding for years, as it could harm the future of our children. Thanks a lot!
Wishing you a fantastic weekend!