Statements from Pennsylvania officials reported in the media

Biden Commutes Sentence of Kids-for-Cash Judge Michael Conahan, Convicted of $2.1 Million Kickback Scheme Among 1,499 People

Dec 13, 2024, 04:54 PM

President Joe Biden commuted the sentence of former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan, who was convicted in 2011 for his role in the notorious 'Kids-for-Cash' scandal. Conahan had been sentenced to 17 years in prison for accepting $2.1 million in kickbacks to send juveniles to for-profit detention centers. His sentence was part of a broader clemency initiative that affected 1,499 individuals. Conahan was previously released to home confinement in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns, with six years remaining on his sentence. The decision to commute his sentence has sparked significant backlash, especially from victims and local officials, who argue that it undermines the severity of his crimes and the impact on the affected children. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro criticized the decision, stating it was 'absolutely wrong' and that Conahan 'deserves to be behind bars, not walking as a free man.'