Criminal Justice (Corrections)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 3, 2025

SB 135: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for sentence of persons under the age of 18 for murder, murder of an unborn child and murder of a law enforcement officer; in sentencing, further providing for sentences for second and subsequent offenses; in miscellaneous provisions relating to inmate confinement, establishing the Life with Parole Reinvestment Fund; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for parole power.

SB 135 changes sentencing for minors (under 18) convicted of certain murders. It mandates minimum 25- or 35-year prison terms (instead of life without parole) for those aged 15+ at the time of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, or murder of a law enforcement officer. The bill also establishes the Life with Parole Reinvestment Fund, which uses prison cost savings from parole decisions to fund victim services, offender reentry programs, and supervision. These changes affect minors convicted of specified violent crimes and modify parole procedures for life-sentence inmates. The fund transfers 25% to victim services, 25% to offender supervision, and 50% to reentry programs starting in 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces life without parole with 25-35 year terms for minors, establishes fund for reentry programs/victim services, promoting reform and rehabilitation in sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 29, 2025

HB 1506: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to inmate confinement, providing for communications services for inmates in State or county correctional institutions.

HB 1506 would require Pennsylvania state and county correctional facilities to provide affordable communication services, such as phone calls or video visits, for inmates. This bill directly affects incarcerated individuals and their families by improving access to regular contact. The key provision mandates that all correctional institutions must offer these services at reasonable rates, aiming to support family connections during incarceration. The bill is currently under review by the Communications & Technology committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires affordable inmate communication services to strengthen family connections, reducing recidivism and supporting rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform indicators.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 1671: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in commencement of proceedings, providing for restorative justice.

HB 1671 amends Pennsylvania's sentencing laws to require courts to consider restorative justice programs when sentencing individuals convicted of crimes. This directly affects people in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system who are facing sentencing decisions. The bill adds specific provisions requiring judges to evaluate whether restorative justice - where offenders repair harm to victims and communities - can be applied alongside traditional sentencing. It aims to expand judicial options beyond incarceration by formally integrating these community-focused approaches into sentencing considerations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates courts to consider restorative justice in sentencing, expanding reform options beyond traditional punishment to repair harm, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Sentencing Victims' Rights

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 21, 2025

HB 1487: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in election districts and polling places, further providing for polling places to be selected by county board; and, in qualifications of electors, further providing for residence of electors.

HB 1487 requires county boards of elections in first-class counties to establish an additional polling place inside county prisons for individuals who register their residence at the prison. It clarifies that incarcerated people (for misdemeanor or summary offenses) in these counties may choose to register and vote at the prison or use absentee ballots, without changing voting eligibility. The bill does not alter who can vote but adds a new in-person voting option for eligible incarcerated individuals. The changes take effect 60 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnables in-person voting for eligible incarcerated individuals in prisons, advancing voting rights as a criminal justice reform measure without altering eligibility.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Tags Elections

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 334: An Act amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, further providing for payment of court costs, restitution and fines, for fine and for failure to pay fine; in licensing of drivers, further providing for suspension of operating privilege for failure to respond to citation; and, in penalties and disposition of fines, further providing for inability to pay fine and costs.

SB 334 modifies Pennsylvania's court cost and fine payment rules to prioritize financial ability over penalties for those unable to pay. It requires judges to hold hearings before imposing fines or jail time for nonpayment, then sets income-based installment plans (using 125%-200% of Federal poverty levels) or waivers for low-income defendants. The bill directly affects individuals facing court costs, fines, or driver's license suspensions due to unpaid citations. Key provisions include preventing jail time for nonpayment if a defendant proves financial hardship, capping monthly payments based on income, and waiving collection fees for those below poverty thresholds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeModifies sentencing to prevent jail for inability to pay fines via income-based plans/waivers, directly advancing criminal justice reform by reducing poverty-driven incarceration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Sentencing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 740: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in medical services, repealing provisions relating to the Medical Services Program and providing for copays and fees prohibited; and abrogating regulations.

SB 740 amends Pennsylvania law concerning medical services for inmates in state correctional institutions. The bill repeals the existing "Medical Services Program," which currently requires inmates to pay copays and fees for their medical care. Instead, it explicitly prohibits the Department of Corrections from requiring inmates to pay any copay or fee for medical services provided to them. This change directly affects inmates by eliminating their financial responsibility for medical treatment and also abrogates related existing regulations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill eliminates inmate copays for medical care in prisons, directly improving access to healthcare and aligning with criminal justice reform goals like rehabilitation and inmate well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves copays/fees for inmate medical care, improving access to healthcare services without financial barriers for a vulnerable population.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 360: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for solitary confinement.

SB 360 requires Pennsylvania's Department of Corrections to collect detailed data on solitary confinement use in state prisons, including duration, reasons for placement, and impacts on vulnerable inmates such as youth, elderly individuals, pregnant people, and LGBTQ+ inmates. The bill mandates annual public reports to the Governor and legislature containing aggregated statistics (like recidivism rates and self-harm incidents) without personally identifiable information. These reports and prison policies governing solitary confinement must be posted on the department's public website. The bill directly affects all state prison inmates, with specific tracking requirements for vulnerable populations.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires data collection on solitary confinement impacts for vulnerable groups and mandates public reporting to enhance oversight, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like transparency and accountability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 23, 2025

SB 874: An Act amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election Code, in election districts and polling places, providing for residence of incarcerated individuals.

SB 874 amends Pennsylvania's Election Code to change how incarcerated individuals are counted for redistricting. It requires that people in state or federal prisons (or juvenile facilities) be counted at their last known address in Pennsylvania - not at the facility location - when creating state legislative, congressional, and local district maps based on the federal census. The bill mandates that correctional and juvenile facilities collect and share data (including last known address, demographic details, and facility location) with redistricting bodies by June 1 each year ending in "1." This directly affects how Pennsylvania redraws voting districts, ensuring prison populations are not artificially inflated in the communities where facilities are located.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends redistricting to count incarcerated at last address, reducing prison gerrymandering and protecting voting rights - key criminal justice reform.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Juvenile Justice

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 12, 2025

HB 1441: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in authorized disposition of offenders, further providing for sentence of persons under the age of 18 for murder, murder of an unborn child and murder of a law enforcement officer; in sentencing, further providing for sentences for second and subsequent offenses; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for parole power.

HB 1441 proposes significant changes to sentencing and parole eligibility for certain serious offenses in Pennsylvania, applying these changes retroactively. The bill modifies sentences for individuals under 18 convicted of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child, or murder of a law enforcement officer, replacing "life without parole" with minimum terms of 25 or 35 years to life, making them eligible for parole. It also removes "without parole" from life sentences for repeat violent offenders, allowing them parole consideration. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole would gain the power to parole individuals serving life sentences, though it would be prohibited from granting parole to offenders who murdered a law enforcement officer. Additionally, for those serving life sentences, parole consideration would not begin until at least five years of incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReplaces life without parole for juveniles and repeat violent offenders with parole-eligible sentences, advancing criminal justice reform by reducing harsh sentencing and promoting rehabilitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Oct 21, 2025

HB 1975: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of assault of law enforcement officer.

HB 1975 would amend Pennsylvania law to expand assault protections for emergency responders (including police, EMTs, and firefighters) beyond just law enforcement officers. The bill makes discharging a firearm at an emergency responder while they are on duty a first-degree felony (up to 40 years in prison), and intentionally exposing them to bodily fluids (blood, saliva, etc.) a third-degree felony, with a second-degree felony penalty if the fluids come from someone with a reportable disease. It directly affects all emergency responders performing their duties and would change sentencing for these specific assault offenses. The bill is pending in the Judiciary Committee as of its October 2025 introduction.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands felony penalties for assaulting emergency responders, strengthening protections for law enforcement within criminal justice framework95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Firearms Policing

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