Montgomery County Declares Code Blue Due To Cold

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

NORRISTOWN, PA – Color Montgomery County blue once again. Code blue, that is.

County commissioners heeded the advice of the Department of Public Safety and have declared a Code Blue Weather Emergency that will run until 9 a.m. on Monday.

A Code Blue Weather Emergency is when there is “extreme, life-threatening weather, defined as a windchill factor of 20 degrees or below,” the county’s website says.

The declaration triggers expanded social services for people, such as homeless adults and families, who are more vulnerable to the frigid weather.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/20140102_Montgomery_County_declares_Code_blue_due_to_cold.html#8oUEGxXZ6PUebMrR.99

Judge Rules Greist Must Remain In State Hospital – Killer’s ‘Progress’ Gets Off-Site Privileges Increased

English: Historic post-card (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WEST CHESTER, PA – Killer Richard Greist must remain committed against his will to Norristown State Hospital for another year, a Chester County Court judge has ruled, but can be given expanded off-ground privileges as he continues to progress in his psychiatric treatment.

Judge Edward Griffith filed an order recommitting Greist on Tuesday, agreeing with the recommendation of his treating psychiatrist at Norristown that he needs to remain in the secure environment of the hospital for fear that if released, he could decompensate mentally and see the psychosis that led to the killing of his wife and infant son re-emerge.

“However,” wrote the judge in his seven-page opinion and order, ”based on the progress in therapy that Mr. Greist has made during the past year, which is demonstrated by insight into his daily choices, greater self-awareness, expressions of sadness and remorse over his past conduct … as well as his conduct on and off (Norristown) grounds, we have permitted Mr. Greist additional off-ground, unsupervised privileges.”

Instead of the current quarterly, 12-hour, unsupervised, off-ground passes, beginning this year Greist will have such privileges every two months in a row, and then a 24-hour overnight pass in the third month. He is also permitted supervised, off-grounds passes overseen by Norristown staff as he has had in the past, and is once more allowed to attend Sunday church services at the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall Temple in West Norriton.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130510/NEWS01/130509266/judge-rules-greist-must–remain-in–state-hospital–killer-s-progress-gets-off-site-privileges-increased-#full_story

Killer Greist Wants Case Shifted To Federal Court

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Killer Richard Greist has for many years wanted a change of scenery — a release from his involuntary commitment to Norristown State Hospital for mental health treatment. Now, he wants a change of venue.

In December, Greist filed a petition to remove his civil commitment case from the Common Pleas Court in Chester County to U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. He said, acting as his own attorney, that his confinement at Norristown violated his constitutional rights, as well as the American with Disabilities Act.

He contends that his case should be moved to federal court because authorities have altered his commitment status from civil to criminal; have refused to order his annual commitment hearings closed to the public; have not considered a “trial release plan” for him into the community; and have failed to consider what the “least restrictive setting” for him would be.

In response, the county District Attorney’s Office, acting as an intervener in the commitment proceedings, asked the court to dismiss Greist’s petition, calling his assertions “patently false,” “nonsensical,” and delusional.

Read more: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2012/01/23/news/srv0000016988163.txt?viewmode=fullstory