About Us

About Pennsylvania Association of Treatment Court Professionals
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The Pennsylvania Association of Treatment Court Professionals (PATCP) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for the establishment of Treatment Courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Treatment Courts are also known as problem solving courts or specialty courts.  They include Drug Courts (Juvenile & Adult), Mental Health Courts, DUI Courts, Veterans Courts and Family Courts. The Pennsylvania Treatment Court Professionals organization was established in 1999.
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OFFICERS & COMMITTEES

2024-2026 Officers

President: Honorable Nancy Butts (Retired)

President Elect: Honorable Eleni Geishauser, Berks County
Executive Director: Abbey Geffken
Treasurer: Danielle Goldowski, Luzerne County
Secretary: Laura Westover, York County

Standing Committees

Advisory Board
Ashworth, David Hon., Lancaster County
Barrasse, Michael Hon., Lackawanna County
Butts, Nancy Hon., Lycoming County, PATCP President 
Collins, Kenneth, Delaware County
Dormer, Jennifer, Pyramid Healthcare
Goldowski, Danielle, Luzerne County, PATCP Treasurer
Huzzard, Mark Lt., Montgomery County
Kennedy, John Hon., York County, Ret.
Landes, Stephanie, Montgomery County
Lowry, Angela, AOPC, Problem Solving Court Administrator
Masland, Albert Hon., Cumberland County
McMonagle, James, Luzerne County
Miraglia, Jessica, Luzerne County
Morrison, Megan, Montgomery County
O’Neill, Steven Hon., Montgomery County
Peters, Joe, Wyoming Counnty
Presenza, Louis, Philadelphia County, Ret.
Schmonsees, Matthew, Philadelphia County
Shaw, Jeff, Erie County, Ret. 
Shurtleff, Russell Hon., Wyoming County/Sullivan County
Sledd, Adam, Unity Recovery
Weiss, Jenna, Luzerne County
Westover, Laura, York County, PATCP Secretary
Wheatcraft, Ann Marie Hon., Chester County
Wright, Susan, PA Counseling
Executive Committee

Honorable Nancy Butts, (Retired) PATCP President

Honorable Eleni Geishauser, Berks County, President Elect
Danielle Goldowski, Luzerne County Treasurer
Laura Westover, York County, Secretary
Angela Lowry, AOPC Liaison, Problem Solving Courts Administrator
Honorable Steven T. O’Neill, Montgomery County, Member at Large
Matthew Schmonsees, Philadelphia County, Member at Large
Honorable Ann Marie Wheatcraft, Chester County, Past PATCP President

Committee Chairs
Alumni Group Committee:
Jessica Miraglia, Luzerne County
Adam Sledd, Unity Recovery
Bylaws/Legislative Committee:
James McMonagle, Luzerne County
Communications/Website/Social Media Committee:

Conference/Educ. Com.:
Hon. Nancy Butts, Lycoming County, (Retired) PATCP President Elect
Brandy Yasenchak, AOPC Analyst
Finance/Sustainability:

Law Enforcement Engagement Committee:
Joe Peters, Wyoming County
Hon. Ann Marie Wheatcraft, Chester County

 

Bylaws

 
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1.     The name of this Association shall be:
PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION OF
TREATMENT COURT PROFESSIONALS
Section 2.    
The PATCP is a non-profit, unincorporated association of professionals working within the criminal justice system for the purposes hereafter stated.
Section 3.     Purpose
Mission:  To advocate for the establishment of drug courts adhering to the “Ten Key Components” (as recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice and All Rise) and the creation of other treatment oriented, problem-solving courts based on the Ten Key Components; further, to provide resources and services, including education, to sustain and promote drug and other problem-solving courts while preserving the sovereignty of each county’s discretion.

ARTICLE II.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  Voting Members
Membership shall be open to any individual who is a current member of a drug or problem-solving court in Pennsylvania that adheres to the “Ten Key Components.”
Each individual member in good standing shall have the right to vote on all matters properly before the membership.  The number of individual members is unlimited from each county.  However, to ensure a balance of representation throughout the Commonwealth, no county shall have more than twenty-five (25) votes on any matter being voted on by the Association.  It shall be the responsibility of the President Judge of a county, or his or her designee, to determine who are the 25 (twenty-five) voting members from the county.  If the President Judge and/or a designee fails to make this determination, then the current President of the Association shall identify the 25 (twenty-five) voting members.
Section 2.     Voting
Each voting member in good standing will have one vote.
Each voting member must be in attendance to cast a vote.
Voting members must have their dues paid up to date to be in “good standing.”  If a quorum exists, a majority vote of members present decides all issues unless otherwise specified by the By Laws.  A quorum consists of a minimum of thirty (30) voting members, including at least two (2) current officers, attending a properly announced meeting.  Attendance can be electronically or by conference call.
Section 3.     Termination of Membership
The Executive Committee, by a majority vote, may revoke the membership of any member for:
  • Violation of the Bylaws.;
  • Conviction of any serious misdemeanor or felony offenses;
  • Any action or inaction that would tend to bring discredit upon the Association.
Section 4.     Dues and Assessments
All annual dues and any assessments shall be determined by the Executive Committee.  Interim assessments may be made by the Executive Committee at any time for any special matter.
Section 5.
Honorary non-voting membership may be conferred on by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE III.  OFFICERS

Section 1.
The officers of the Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting to serve a two-year term of office.  The President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the position of President unless by a vote of 2/3 (two-thirds) of the Executive Committee the President-Elect is removed from the ballot prior to the election for his/her presidency.  The President and the President-Elect cannot be from the same county.  There shall also be the office of the Immediate Past President, who shall serve for the term of the successor President and have full voting rights on all Executive Committee business.  Among these five officers, there shall be at most at any one time two officers from the same county.
Section 2.     Duties:
President:  The President shall have all direct and incidental powers as are necessary to manage the affairs of the Association.  The President shall preside at all meetings.
President Elect:  The President Elect shall have all direct and incidental powers as may be necessary to manage the affairs of the Association that have been delegated to him/her by the President or Executive Committee.  In the absence or disability of the President, the President Elect shall perform all the duties of the President.
Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a full and complete record of all proceedings of each meeting and shall be responsible for all records and correspondence of the Association.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all Association funds and shall receive all funds of the Association and make deposits in an account as approved by the Executive Committee.  Funds shall be paid only in checks of the Association signed by persons authorized by the Executive Committee.  The Treasurer must present an annual report on the status of Association funds.
Section 3.     Term:
Terms of office shall begin at noon on the last day of the Annual Conference at which such an election occurred and conclude two years later or until a successor takes office.  No officer may serve more than two consecutive two-year terms in the same office.  These provisions are effective immediately and supersede any prior provisions for staggered terms of office.
Section 4.     Nominating Officers:
Any voting member desiring to run for an elected office shall submit written notice of such intent to the Executive Committee in sufficient time for the candidate’s name to appear on the ballot.  Any candidate wishing to withdraw from consideration shall notify the Executive Committee in sufficient time for the name to be removed from the ballot.
Section 5.     Elections:
The Association will hold elections prior to the end of the term of the current officers at the annual meeting.  The candidate must receive a simple majority of the votes of a quorum of the attending voting members to be elected. If the ballot contains more than two candidates and no candidate receives a majority vote on the first ballot, a second, final vote will be selected between the top two candidates.
Vacancies in elected positions because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise will be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Committee for the remainder of the vacated term.  All other vacancies shall be filled by the President.
Section 6.     Election Process:
The Executive Committee will distribute and count secret ballots and make the ballots available for review immediately following the election.  If there is only one (1) candidate for an office the President may call for a voice vote for election to that office.
Section 7.     Committees:

    A. Standing Committees.
Standing Committees shall be established by the Executive Committee to address matters of a continuous and recurring nature.  The duties of the Standing Committees shall be set forth by the Executive Committee, which shall have oversight of all actions of the various standing, advisory or special committees. Standing Committees include the following:
  • Bylaws/Legislative Committee
  • Communications/Website/Social Media Committee
  • Conference/Education Committee
  • Finance/Sustainability Committee
  • Law Enforcement Engagement Committee
  • Nominations Committee
  • Recovery Supports and Services Committee
Members in good standing may volunteer to serve on the various committees.  The President may appoint members in good standing to serve on any committee with an insufficient number of volunteers.  The chair of each committee shall be elected by the members of each committee at the committee’s first meeting each fiscal year.  The name of the chair shall be communicated to the President and Executive Director.  If a chair is not elected at the first meeting, the President may appoint a chair.
Standing Committees shall be empowered to establish such subcommittees as may be necessary to assist in the performance of their investigation, study or action.  All subcommittees will be responsible for reporting directly to their respective Standing Committees.
     B. Ad Hoc Committees.
The Executive Committee may, from time to time, form Ad Hoc Committees to study matters relating to specific purposes, business and objectives of the Association.  The term of such committee shall be ended upon completion of their assigned tasks.
     C. Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall have and exercise all the powers of the Association subject to such limitations as the laws of the Commonwealth may impose.  The Executive Committee shall have the power to make rules and regulations of the conduct of its business, including financial expenditures for operations and compensation of the Executive Director. Members of the Executive Committee shall include the Officers (President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President), as well as up to three at-large members, with no more than two being active or retired judges. The at-large members shall be chosen by the Executive Committee, with the goal of enhancing the regional representation of the Committee. In addition, the AOPC Problem Solving Courts Program Administrator or his/her designee shall serve as an ex officio member of the Executive Committee with full voting privileges. The President shall serve as Chair of the Executive Committee. Vacancies on the Executive Committee, whether caused by the failure to elect, resignation, death or otherwise, shall be filled for the unexpired term by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will meet as needed, but no less than 4 times per year. A majority thereof shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee.
     D. Advisory Committee.
The purpose of the Advisory Committee is to preserve the institutional memory of the Association and provide added value to its mission.  Membership is comprised of the Executive Committee, outgoing President of the Executive Committee, chairs of Standing Committees, and At Large Members appointed by the Executive Committee. The Advisory Committee will meet at the annual meeting of the Association and at such other times as its members deem necessary.

This will be a non-voting appointment and will extend the rights and privileges to the Advisory member for input at meetings.  Although members shall not have voting rights, they may participate fully in Executive Committee meetings and activities.  Advisory members may serve on and chair committees.
Section 8.     Governance:
The governing body of the Association shall be the Executive Committee acting as a whole.  All decisions, including all financial matters, shall be made by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.  The President, or a majority of the Executive Committee, may appoint a committee at any time to further the business of the Association.

ARTICLE IV.  MEETINGS

Section 1.     Annual:
The Association will schedule one annual meeting per year at such a place and time as designated by the Executive Committee for the purpose of electing officers, if necessary, and transacting such other business as may properly come before the Association.
Section 2.     Special:
The President or a majority of the Executive Committee may schedule special meetings as necessary.
Section 3.     Annual Conference:
The Association will schedule an annual conference, open to all persons interested in the issues of the Association. This conference will present speakers and workshops to further the mission and goals of the organization.
Section 4.     Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall meet a minimum of quarterly per year and/or at the call of the President.
Section 5.
If the provisions of the Bylaws do not apply to and govern business brought before a meeting of the Association, then the most current version of Robert’s Rules of Order apply and govern.

ARTICLE V.  ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1.
These Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon their adoption and shall supersede all previous Bylaws.
Section 2.     Amending Bylaws
All amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual or special meeting of the members.  The Executive Committee will review the proposed amendments and make a written recommendation to the membership on whether each provision shall be approved as a whole or in part.
The proposed amendments and the accompanying recommendations of the Executive Committee will be disseminated in writing or by email to all voting members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the amendments will be voted upon.  All voting members shall be notified in writing at least thirty (30) days prior so that the amendments will be discussed and voted upon at the meeting.
A majority of the voting members present, and voting may amend the Bylaws when notice has been provided pursuant to this Section.  The Bylaws may also be amended without notice by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the voting members present and voting at an annual meeting.


ARTICLE VI.  MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1.
The fiscal year of the Association shall be the traditional fiscal year of July 1st through June 30.
Section 2.
The Executive Committee shall produce an annual financial report which will be available to members in good standing, upon request.
Section 3.
No officer or member of the Executive Committee of the Association shall be personally liable to any Association creditor for any indebtedness or liability of the Association.
Section 4.
Upon the dissolution of the association, the Executive Committee members shall, after paying or making provision of payment of all of the liabilities of the association, dispose of all the assets of the association in which a manner, or to such organization(s) organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization(s) under section 501 (c) (3) of 1954 (or corresponding provisions of any future United States Revenue Law), as Executive Committee Members shall determine.  Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the association is then located, exclusively for such purposes as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.  The principal office of the association is the office of the current President of the association at the time of dissolution.
 

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