Criminal Justice

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 May 12, 2025

SR 105: A Resolution recognizing the month of May 2025 as "National Treatment Court Month" in Pennsylvania.

Senate Resolution 105 recognizes May 2025 as "National Treatment Court Month" in Pennsylvania. This resolution aims to raise awareness about the effectiveness of various treatment courts, such as Drug Courts and Mental Health Courts, in addressing underlying issues contributing to criminal behavior and promoting recovery.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill promotes treatment courts (Drug/Mental Health) to address root causes of crime, reduce recidivism, and support rehabilitation - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly promotes Mental Health Courts as effective treatment for underlying issues, aligning with 'supports mental health services' indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Substance Abuse

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SB 54: An Act amending Titles 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) and 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in limitation of time, further providing for six months limitation; in matters affecting government units, further providing for exceptions to sovereign immunity, for limitations on damages and for exceptions to governmental immunity and providing for claims for compensation for wrongful conviction; in general administration, providing for services after wrongful conviction; and, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for powers and duties of department.

SB 54 establishes a new process for individuals wrongfully convicted in Pennsylvania to seek financial compensation. To qualify, claimants must prove actual innocence through overturned convictions, pardons, or acquittals after retrial, and have served time for the crime. The bill creates a petition process in Commonwealth Court (without requiring attorneys) and specifies eligibility criteria (e.g., excluding accomplices or those who committed perjury) and compensation amounts based on time served. It also modifies immunity laws to ensure wrongful conviction claims aren't blocked by government defenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSB 54 creates a compensation process for wrongfully convicted individuals, directly addressing systemic errors in criminal justice. It establishes clear eligibility criteria and a no-attorney petition process in Commonwealth Court, advancing accou...95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 31, 2025

SB 913: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for offenses committed while engaged in riots.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's sentencing guidelines to increase penalties for specific offenses committed during riots. It requires the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing to create enhanced penalties for crimes like simple assault, aggravated assault, burglary, and criminal trespass when these occur while violating riot laws (18 Pa.C.S. § 5501). The key mechanism is adding a sentencing enhancement factor for such circumstances, modifying the standard penalty ranges for these offenses. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of these specific crimes during riot-related incidents.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for riot-related offenses, expanding criminalization and harsher sentencing - opposes reform efforts by strengthening punitive measures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jul 31, 2025

SB 918: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentences for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.

SB 918 sets mandatory minimum prison terms for Pennsylvania residents convicted of illegal firearm possession. First-time offenders face at least 11 months in prison, repeat offenders get a minimum of 5 years for a second conviction, and those with two prior violations face a 15-year minimum. The law requires courts to verify prior convictions before applying these sentences and bars parole until the minimum term is served. It directly affects individuals convicted under Pennsylvania's firearm possession law (18 Pa.C.S. § 6105), particularly those with prior offenses.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory minimum sentences for firearm possession increase penalties, restrict judicial discretion, and bar parole - aligning with indicators opposing criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 29, 2025

HB 1508: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentences for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.

HB 1508 would change sentencing guidelines for individuals convicted of possessing firearms while prohibited under Pennsylvania law. It directly affects people with certain criminal convictions or protective orders who are legally barred from owning guns. The bill specifies mandatory minimum sentences for these offenses, modifying current provisions in Pennsylvania's judicial code to establish clearer penalties for firearm possession by prohibited persons.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory minimum sentences for prohibited firearm possession increase penalties, aligning with punitive criminal justice approach that restricts defendant rights and expands criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Sentencing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 1237: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in organization and jurisdiction of courts of common pleas, further providing for problem-solving courts; and, in sentencing, further providing for modification or revocation of order of probation.

HB 1237 amends Pennsylvania law to expand problem-solving courts, such as drug, mental health, and veterans courts, in courts of common pleas. It allows these courts to be established using available funds and creates a Statewide Coordinator to help with funding, coordination, and evaluation of such programs. The bill also changes sentencing rules: for technical probation violations (like missing a meeting), courts must consider a defendant’s employment status and may allow up to 30 days of confinement to enter a problem-solving court. This directly affects defendants on probation who might be referred to treatment programs instead of jail, as well as the courts administering these programs. The law takes effect in 60 days.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands problem-solving courts (drug/mental health/veterans) and modifies sentencing for probation violations to prioritize rehabilitation over incarceration, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health courts as problem-solving courts, directly supporting mental health services access through judicial system.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly expands veterans courts, creates Statewide Coordinator for funding/coordination, and directly enhances veteran-specific problem-solving court access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Probation & Parole Sentencing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Aug 22, 2025

HB 1817: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in obstructing governmental operations, providing for the offense of interfering or impeding a first responder's duties.

HB 1817 would amend Pennsylvania's criminal code to create a specific offense for interfering with or impeding first responders - such as police, firefighters, or paramedics - while they are performing emergency duties. The bill would add this as a new provision under the section on obstructing governmental operations, defining prohibited actions like physically blocking, threatening, or hindering emergency personnel. This change would make such interference a distinct criminal violation, potentially subjecting offenders to penalties under state law. The bill is currently under review by the Judiciary committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates new offense to protect first responders, aligning with 'protect' indicator in support stance90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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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 Sep 9, 2025

HB 1839: An Act amending the act of November 29, 2006 (P.L.1471, No.165), known as the Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act, further providing for definitions and for sexual assault evidence collection program; and providing for noncompliance.

HB 1839 amends Pennsylvania's Sexual Assault Testing and Evidence Collection Act by updating definitions related to evidence handling and clarifying requirements for agencies collecting sexual assault evidence. It adds specific penalties for agencies that fail to comply with these procedures. The bill directly affects law enforcement, medical facilities, and crime labs responsible for processing sexual assault evidence. Key changes include standardized protocols for evidence collection and retention to improve case integrity. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee on September 9, 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAmends sexual assault evidence protocols with standardized procedures and noncompliance penalties, strengthening evidence handling in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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