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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 31, 2022 03:03 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Scott Martin and Sen. Anthony H. Williams |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Clean Slate |
| In the near future, we intend to introduce legislation that will modernize and expand Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate automated sealing laws as it pertains to lower-level drug felonies. The goal being to align Pennsylvania with 35 other states in the union that utilize best practices and evidence-based policies designed to allow those who have since tackled their addiction, and have become productive members of society, a better and less burdensome path forward. Recently, the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus held a hearing on expanding clean slate for lower-level drug felonies. Notable moments from the hearing included the testimony in support of the concept from a grandmother who turned her life around after a mistake more than two decades ago as well as from stakeholders such as the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, the Justice Action Network and Community Legal Service of Philadelphia. There have been more than 36 million misdemeanor cases already sealed by the Commonwealth’s Clean Slate laws, however Pennsylvania does not allow for the sealing of felonies. This legislation would change that by allowing the automated Clean Slate sealing of a low-level drug felony so long as the individual has gone 10 years without committing a crime. The drug conviction will not be eligible for sealing if a minimum sentence of imprisonment of three years or more was initially imposed, which excludes trafficking and other serious or violent offenses. Other exclusions that exist in the Clean Slate law that this legislation will have no affect on include but are not limited to: offenses related to criminal homicide, offenses related to assault, offenses related to kidnapping, offenses related to human trafficking, sexual offenses, offenses against the family, and offenses involving firearms/weapons. We are a society built on forgiveness and second chances for those who truly seek it. Our laws should reflect that sentiment and balance appropriate consequences with an actual opportunity to turn one’s life around and better contribute to their communities after serving their punishment. Please consider joining us in co-sponsoring this life-changing legislation. |
Introduced as SB1314