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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 11, 2013 10:48 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dom Costa |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Amending Title 61 to Provide Restrictions Concerning the Parole of Violent Offenders |
| In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that will amend Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to provide for greater restrictions concerning the parole of violent offenders. Currently, it is possible for those individuals that have been convicted of committing violent crimes to be moved to half-way houses or other similar facilities in the community prior to serving so much as the minimum term of their sentences. In some situations, these offenders, while under the supervision of alternative housing facilities, are able to participate in work- release programs that allow them to leave the facility for many hours at a time. There have been multiple incidents in Allegheny County where violent offenders have been assigned to alternative housing facilities, despite their involvement in crimes of violence, including the possession of illegal firearms. In one such incident, as reported by Jim Parsons of WTAE Channel 4 in Pittsburgh, an individual failed to return to the facility from his work-release assignment. His presence in the community resulted in the murder of a pregnant woman last October. Because of the severity of the crimes that these individuals have been involved in, I believe it is extremely important for violent offenders to remain in the custody of our Commonwealth’s jails and prisons. These loop-holes can no longer be overlooked. This legislation will require that violent offenders serve out the entire minimum portion of their sentences prior to being granted release, from the Board of Parole, to half-way houses or other community facilities. Such changes are necessary to better protect our citizens. |
Introduced as HB859