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1. What is someone makes threats or harasses me regarding my testimony or the crime?

You should immediately report this to police or to the District Attorney’s Office.  Criminal charges can be brought against anyone who threatens or harasses a victim/witness.  If the defendant himself is involved, his bail may be revoked and he would be committed to jail.

2. How long will this process take?

From the time the suspect is arrested to the time he/she would go to trial or plead guilty could take up to a year depending on the courts schedule and case load. Please be patient with this process.

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1. Where is the courthouse located? Where should I park?

The Venango County Courthouse is located at 1168 Liberty Street, Franklin, PA 16323.  There are parking meters located all around the courthouse.  There is also free parking within walking distance.

2. Where do I meet my victim advocate?

When you get to the courthouse, please report to the District Attorney’s Office which is located on the third floor of the Courthouse.

3. Should I bring anything with me?

Often you will have to wait to testify, so you may want to bring something along to help you pass the time.  You may choose to bring your own games or reading material.

4. How long can I expect to be there?

Times will vary.  Although we try to limit the amount of time that you waiting, it is not uncommon to experience delays throughout the day for various reasons, please be assured that we are doing everything in our power to move things swiftly for you.

5. Will anyone stay with me?

A victim advocate will answer questions, show you the courtroom and go with you to any court events.  You may also bring another person with you for support.  Your support person can be in the room with you when you testify if he/she is not under subpoena.

6. Who is permitted in the courtroom?

A trial is a public event and anyone may sit in the courtroom unless they will testify.  People who are going to testify are typically sequestered, meaning they are not permitted in the courtroom until they are called to come in.

7. Where can I obtain an excuse for missing work or school?

You can show your subpoena to your employer or school official.  The victim advocate can also provide a letter to you upon request.

8. What if a defense attorney contacts me?

If the defendant’s lawyer or someone working on the defendant’s lawyer’s behalf asks to speak to you about the case, you have the right to refuse.  The defense attorney’s job is to gain information that will help his client and anything that you tell him/her can be brought up later in court.  It is for you to decide if it is in your best interest to discuss your case with anyone other than the prosecutor that is assigned to your case.

9. What does it mean that the defendant waived his or her preliminary hearing?

If the case is waived, this simply means that the defendant agrees that the Commonwealth would be able to prove their basic case and that they will allow the case to proceed to the Court of Common Pleas without having a hearing to make that determination.

10. What if I do not feel safe entering/exiting the Courthouse?

Please let our staff know.  We routinely make arrangements with police and sheriff’s deputies to escort your entrance/exit from the courthouse.

11. What if I do not want to press charges?

You do not press charges.  The charges are filed by law enforcement and prosecuted by our office.  If you are reluctant to testify, it is very important to speak with the prosecuting attorney and victim witness staff who can advocate on your behalf.  Tell them about your concerns, so that they can be addressed early on.  We may be able to clarify misconceptions and offer choices.  

12. What about bail?

If bail is an issue, it may be addressed at the end of the preliminary hearing.  If there are special conditions that you want, let the District Attorney or Assistant District Attorney know ahead of time to see if your conditions can be met.

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1. What does it mean to be the County's lead economic development entity?

This is a designation passed by resolution by the Board of the Venango County Commissioners recognizing a single entity as the lead agency for Economic Development in Venango County. While there are many great organizations here in Venango committed to advancing the economic growth of our county, the Commissioners have designated the Venango County Economic Development Authority as the lead.

2. How do I build in Venango County?

Building in Venango County is a streamlined process, please contact Ashley Smith, the Land Use Planner in the County Planning Department, for more information.

3. Where is the Economic Development Authority located? And, where do I park?

The Venango County Economic Development Authority is co-located with the County Planning Department on the first floor of the Venango County Courthouse, across from the Sheriff’s Office. We are located at 1168 Liberty Street, Franklin, Pa., 16323. You can access the courthouse through the Elk Street entrance in the back of the building. 

While there is no designated parking for Authority visitors, you can park in any number of the many available metered and unmetered parking spaces that surround the courthouse. Just be sure not to park in the numbered lot located behind the Courthouse Annex as those spots are reserved for county employees.

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1. Where can I get information about affordable housing in the area?

Learn about housing options by visiting our Housing page.

2. How can I find out what early intervention services are available for my child?

Learn about prevention-based services for Children and Families.

3. I'm looking for a support group. Can you help me?

Get information about our support groups.

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1. Are pavilions available to reserve for parties or events?

Our pavilions are available on a first come, first served basis. Learn more about our pavilions.

2. What forms are needed for reserving facilities?

Visit our Registration Forms page to view a listing of available forms to find what you need.

3. What are the costs for reserving facilities?

Visit our Prices and Services page for information about reservation fees.

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1. When do I use 911?

Use 911 in any situation that requires help because a person's life or well being is threatened, property is endangered, or an illegal activity is in progress or for any situation where the police, fire or ambulance is needed.

2. How do I make a 911 phone call?

When calling 911, try to remain calm. When the 911 operator answers, say, "I have an emergency" and speak clearly. Don't talk too fast. Remember to give the call-taker:

• An address
• A clear and simple description of the emergency
• Where help is needed (street or road name, number, township, or borough)
• Where you are, if a different location

Stay on the telephone and do not hang up unless the call-taker tells you to. Remember to answer all of the call-taker's questions and to stay near the phone if possible. Hang up the phone only after the call-taker advises you to do so.

In case of a fire, leave the building immediately! Call for help from another location.

3. What is Enhanced 911?

Enhanced 911 is a system that automatically provides the call-taker with the caller's telephone number and address. The Cumberland County Communications Center has this capability.

However, it is necessary for them to still verify this information and for the caller to state what their emergency is.

4. Can I get away with making a 911 prank call?

No, the police are sent to check all 911 hang ups. These types of calls could keep officers from responding to a valid emergency. A prank call can prevent someone with a real emergency from getting through to a call-taker and receiving help.

5. What happens when I dail 911?

When you dial 911, the following happens:

1. You dial 911 for emergency help.
2. Your 911 call goes to a TELCO computer, which identifies the telephone number from which you are calling.
3. Your call is automatically relayed to the emergency agency serving the address of that telephone number.
4. As your call is connected to the emergency agency, in a matter of seconds, a computerized database provides the dispatcher with name and address information about the number from which you are calling.
5. The dispatcher determines your emergency needs and verifies the address of the emergency.
6. The proper emergency services are sent to the scene.

6. What is emergency management?

Emergency management is the planning and coordination of all man-made, natural emergencies, and disaster activities. It is the action taken to eliminate or reduce the impact of a potential hazard and it is people working together in emergency response to a disaster and restoring things to normal conditions afterwards.

7. What is disaster planning?

Disaster planning is the coordination of a unified response to a crisis to prevent or minimize threats when possible and to respond quickly and effectively when prevention is not possible.

8. What training is provided?

Experience based, state-of-the-art training is available for businesses and industries, day care centers, and other interested organizations free of charge. This training integrates traditional emergency management practices and knowledge with capabilities afforded by emerging technologies like computer modeling, networks, and telecommunications.

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1. Where can I get information about obtaining a rental car?

Visit our Car Rentals page for more information about renting a car after your flight.

2. How can I check fuel prices?

Visit our General Aviation page for information about fuel prices

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1. How much does it cost to house an inmate?

Operating a correctional facility is not cheap. We have a responsibility to care for the inmate's needs while he is incarcerated in the prison. It costs the taxpayers of Venango County approximately $50 per day or approximately $18,250 per year to house an inmate in the prison.

To help off set this cost, several programs have been instituted to make the inmate partially responsible for the cost of housing them. Any inmate on work release has to pay $90 per week for room and board while he is incarcerated in the prison. As you can see, the amount the inmate is charged does not even come close to meeting the actual cost. The idea is to show the inmate that they should be at least partially responsible for the cost of incarcerating them in the prison.

Medical expenses are a large amount of the cost in housing an inmate, and we charge the inmate $6 to see the nurse and $8 if they request to see the doctor. We will not deny any medical care to an inmate who is indigent and cannot pay this fee. The reasoning behind this fee is to keep inmates who do not need to see the medical staff from just going and "visiting."

2. What is the average length of stay for an inmate at the prison?

Venango County Prison can house an inmate sentenced to the prison for a period of up to 5 years. Most inmates sentenced to the prison have a maximum sentence of up to 2 years.

A sentence of 2 years or longer is typically a sentence served in a state correctional facility, but the sentencing judge has the discretion to sentence an inmate to the prison for a period of up to 5 years.

The average length of time an inmate spends in the prison is approximately 60 days. This includes inmates who are brought to the prison and released on bond within a few days, 48 hour driving under the influence (DUI) sentences, and inmates serving a maximum sentence of 5 years in the prison. A median time an inmate stays in the prison is approximately 9 to 12 months.

3. What types of offenses have inmates in the prison committed?

As a county prison, we handle inmates that are:

• Awaiting transport to a state correctional facility to serve their sentence
• Brought in as pre-trial and unable to make bond, inmates who are sentenced by a District Magistrate for either a summary offense or a Misdemeanor of the 3rd degree
• In violation of a civil proceeding such as domestic relations orders; i.e. child support, or violated a Protection from Abuse order
• In violation of conditions of their probation or parole or
• Serving County sentences for crimes they have been convicted or pled guilty tor

Changes in State law provide for the prison to house juveniles who have committed certain criminal offenses and the District Attorney has decided to try as an adult.

4. What is the difference between privileges and rights within the prison?

There is a difference between the rights that are accorded an inmate and privileges that are granted an inmate. An inmate has certain rights they enjoy from the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These rights the inmate enjoys can not be taken away from the inmate. A few of the rights they have are:

• Access to legal material
• Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
• Freedom to practice their religion

Privileges that an inmate enjoy can be taken away for violations of the Prison rules and regulations. An inmate has several privileges such as:

• Telephone
• Television
• Visitation
• Work release

As you can see, one way you maintain order in a correctional facility is the administration of privileges. It all boils down to if you behave while in the prison you will have several privileges. If you misbehave, you will have some or all of your privileges taken away for a period of time. An infraction of the visitation rules could result in losing visitation privileges for a period of time.

5. How do you keep the inmates in line?

A prison has to have rules and regulations to maintain order and safety. If an inmate violates any of the rules or regulations of the prison, a misconduct is written on the inmate. These misconducts are handled in prison. But if the inmate has committed a crime inside the prison, he could be charged criminally, too.

Sanctions for violating the rules and regulations range from verbal warnings, restriction of privileges, being locked down in his cell for period of time. Also, if an inmate causes problems while awaiting sentence, it could mean additional time or a state sentence instead of a county sentence. If the inmate misbehaves after being sentenced, he could have to spend additional time before he is paroled.

If you treat the inmates fairly and equally, you will, for the most part, have an inmate that will behave himself and not be looking to cause problems.

6. What is the Pre-Release Advisory Board?

The Pre-Release Advisory Board (PRAB) was set up by the Honourable Judge H. William White in 1996 to assist him in making decisions on when and how  he should parole an inmate sentenced to the prison. 

The board meets every two weeks to consider any inmate who has a sentence of over 60 days and is approaching their minimum release date. Several factors are considered by the board when discussing the inmate. Some of these factors include their behavior while incarcerated and any treatment programs recommended by mental health or drug and alcohol personnel. Once we have discussed the inmate's case, a vote is taken and a recommendation is made to the sentencing judge.The sentencing judge then makes a decision based upon the recommendation of PRAB.

7. How do inmates obtain and use money while incarcerated?

When an inmate is incarcerated, any money they have is taken and accounted for.  This money is placed into an account where it is available for the inmate’s use. Families and friends can also contribute money to an inmate's account.  

The Venango County Prison Board of Inspections has adopted a policy where the inmates are financially responsible for certain services provided by the prison, should they decide to use them. The purpose of this policy is to help them become financially responsible for debts they incur while in the prison and through out their life. Read more about inmate finances and financial responsibility.

8. What is the policy for contraband within the prison?

Many items you would consider as nothing out of the ordinary can cause severe problems inside a correctional facility. When you think of contraband inside a prison you often think of items such as weapons, tools, and drugs and you are right. But this is only a small part of what is considered contraband in the prison. Items such as paper clips, staples, chewing gum, and tobacco are among the items not allowed in the prison.

The prison is a smoke free facility so the inmates are not allowed to posses tobacco in any form nor are they allowed to posses any lighting equipment such as lighters and matches. Paper clips and staples can be used for a multitude of things ranging from being used for tattooing to making picks for locks.

The inmates have 24 hours a day to think of ways to get around the system, and some do all they can to try and get around the system. By restricting what they have access to helps us try to keep ahead of them.

9. What is the policy for inmate telephone use within the prison?

The inmates have access to telephones that they may use if they desire to do so. When an inmate is committed to the prison, they are given the opportunity to fill out a phone list of people they wish to be able to call.  The inmate is given a personal identification number (PIN) and this number has to match up with the number they are trying to call. The numbers are recorded in a computer and when an inmate makes a phone call they have to enter their PIN and then the person receiving the call has to agree to accept the call. 

There are several benefits to using a PIN system, including: 

• It is a way to restrict the inmate from calling people who do not want to be called by the inmate, such as the victim or others. 
• The phone system does not allow any incoming calls.
• The system has technology to defeat third party calls that inmates use to set up scams to unsuspecting victims.

The calls are very similar to collect calls even if they are made to people who live in the local calling area.  The rates charged for these calls are comparable to collect call rates. Read more about contacting an inmate with this system.

County Benefits

The County receives a benefit from the inmate telephone system. A percentage of the profit is returned to the inmate's welfare account and items that the County would ordinarily have to pay for with tax dollars can be purchased with this money.

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1. How can I become an election official?

You can become an election official by:

• Calling 814-432-9512 to have your name placed on file
• Complete the online application

2. What do election officials do?

Election officials have several duties including:

• Set up polling location
• Sign in voters
• Complete required paper work
• Distribute ballots to voters
• Maintain order inside & outside the polling location
• Close polls

3. Who is eligible to be an election official?

To be an election official, you must:

• Be a registered voter
• Attend a training class
• Or, be 17 years old and participate in the Student Poll Worker Program

4. What is the time commitment?

Election Officials work from 6 a.m. (to open the polls) until approximately 9 p.m. (when the polls close and the tallying of the returns paperwork is completed).

5. Are election officials paid?

Yes. Election officials are compensated per election:

• Judge: paid $130, plus $20 for the returns plus mileage
• Minority Inspector: paid $110, plus $20 for the returns
• Majority Inspector: paid $110 
• Clerks: paid $100

6. What kind of training will I receive?

Election Officials attend a 1.5 to 2 hour training class held at the Venango County Courthouse Annex. Trainees are compensated a stipend of $10 for attending.

7. What if I have other questions about being an election official?

If you have more questions, please call the Venango County Courthouse at 814-432-9512 or 814-432-9508.