PRINTER'S NO. 734
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
70
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, SCHWEYER, SANCHEZ, HILL-EVANS, KINSEY,
SCHLOSSBERG, GALLOWAY, FRANKEL, CIRESI, HOWARD, DELLOSO,
McCLINTON AND WARREN, MARCH 3, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 3, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Requesting each district attorney in this Commonwealth to review
juvenile delinquency cases in the judicial district in which
the district attorney serves to focus on rehabilitation,
treatment and support and to heavily discourage immediate and
prolonged incarceration.
WHEREAS, Rates of juvenile incarceration have decreased over
the past decade; and
WHEREAS, In 2018, 728,280 children were arrested in the
United States, with a child or teen being arrested every 43
seconds; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 76,000 children are prosecuted,
sentenced or incarcerated as adults annually; and
WHEREAS, Children of color are nearly two times more likely
to be arrested than white children, with black children being
two and a half times more likely; and
WHEREAS, Incarcerated children are at risk of physical and
psychological abuse, sexual assault, suicide and other harms,
including inadequate educational instruction; and
WHEREAS, Risks are heightened for children in the adult
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criminal justice system, which focuses on punishment rather than
rehabilitation and treatment; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives request each
district attorney in this Commonwealth to review juvenile
delinquency cases in the judicial district in which the district
attorney serves to focus on rehabilitation, treatment and
support and to heavily discourage immediate and prolonged
incarceration; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize that
the number of juveniles sentenced to incarceration remains too
high; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives acknowledge the
importance of rehabilitation and treatment for children involved
in the juvenile justice system.
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