Criminal Justice

SB 647 amends Pennsylvania's Crimes and Offenses statute regarding prostitution and related offenses. The bill removes specific provisions that made these offenses a third-degree felony if the person involved was HIV positive or knew another person involved was HIV positive. It establishes a mechanism for individuals previously convicted and sentenced under these specific HIV-related felony provisions to petition the court for resentencing to a misdemeanor grade. This resentencing process applies to those who have completed their sentence and those currently serving it, subject to certain conditions.

HB 2059 amends Pennsylvania's prison laws to establish clearer rules for segregated confinement (seclusion in prison cells) and create oversight. It directly affects incarcerated people in Pennsylvania prisons by requiring a new Segregated Confinement Hearing Review Board to review cases where individuals are placed in segregation. The bill sets specific time limits for segregation, mandates regular reviews by the board, and updates definitions in prison statutes to improve transparency. These changes aim to prevent indefinite or arbitrary segregation while providing a formal process for review.