Criminal Justice (Sentencing)

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

Track

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

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SB 493: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in bonds and recognizances, providing for cash bail prohibited, for conditions of release and for collection and report of pretrial release data; in sentencing, further providing for modification or revocation of order of probation; and abrogating regulations.

SB 493 prohibits cash bail for pretrial release in Pennsylvania, meaning courts cannot require defendants to pay money to be released before trial. Instead, judges may only order detention if the prosecution proves a felony defendant poses an immediate danger to others and no non-monetary conditions (like electronic monitoring) can ensure public safety. The bill also requires counties to collect and publish annual data on pretrial detention by race, gender, and ethnicity, and prevents probation revocation solely due to unpaid electronic monitoring fees. These changes directly affect defendants facing pretrial detention decisions and county courts managing release conditions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits cash bail, mandates demographic data collection on pretrial detention, and prioritizes non-monetary release conditions - core criminal justice reform measures targeting systemic bias and reducing wealth-based detention.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · House Sep 9, 2025

HB 1477: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, further providing for the offense of stalking.

HB 1477 increases penalties for repeat stalking offenses in Pennsylvania. It upgrades second or subsequent stalking convictions (or first offenses with prior violent crimes against the same victim, like assault or rape) to a second-degree felony, requiring a minimum 5-year prison sentence and a maximum of 10 years. The bill mandates that courts must consider prior convictions for specific violent crimes when sentencing, with strict procedures for verifying those records. This directly affects individuals convicted of stalking who have prior violent offenses against the same person, altering sentencing outcomes without changing the definition of stalking itself.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory minimum sentences for repeat stalking (5-10 years), upgrades penalties to second-degree felony, and restricts judicial discretion by mandating prior violent crime consideration. Expands criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Domestic Violence Sentencing

Track

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

Track

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 3, 2025

SB 1021: An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, providing for sentencing for offenses committed against immigration enforcement.

SB 1021 amends Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines to increase penalties for violent acts targeting immigration enforcement. It creates a sentencing enhancement for two specific scenarios: (1) crimes of violence committed to interfere with immigration enforcement activities, and (2) violent acts causing bodily injury to immigration enforcement personnel. The bill applies to existing offenses under Pennsylvania law that meet these criteria, adding an extra penalty layer within the state's sentencing guidelines. This change directly affects individuals convicted of such violent acts against immigration enforcement officers or personnel.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for violence against immigration enforcement personnel, expanding criminalization and adding sentencing enhancements per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationIncreases penalties for violence targeting immigration enforcement personnel, strengthening state enforcement against interference with federal immigration actions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Enforcement

Track