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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/30/2024 05:50 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=38068
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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 2, 2022 09:08 AM
From: Representative Carl Walker Metzgar
To: All House members
Subject: State Correctional Institutions Safety Reform
 
Since 2015, there have been 3,751 instances of inmates assaulting Pennsylvania correction facility staff. To help curb this extreme violence, I plan to introduce a seven-bill package to further protect prison staff and the public from these dangerous criminals.

It is clear the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ policies have failed to protect the staff and officers that protect us from the state’s most dangerous criminals. In addition to the 3,571 attacks on prison staff, there were 3,364 prisoner-on-prisoner assaults. This clearly shows our fearless correction officers being targeted for attack by these prisoners.

The bills would address seven key areas to improve safety for Department of Corrections (DOC) staff and the public. The bills would also provide tougher penalties on inmates who assault prison staff.

Please join me in helping to protect Pennsylvania's corrections officers by co-sponsoring this legislation.


Document #1

Introduced as HB1069

Description: Proposal #1 (Former HB 1001): Eliminate parole eligibility for inmates convicted of staff assault.
 

Document #2

Introduced as HB1068

Description:
Proposal #2 (Former HB 1004): Place inmates who assault staff on the restricted release list, confining them to the restricted housing unit (RHU). Additionally, they cannot be released without a regional deputy secretary’s approval. 
 

Document #3

Description:
Proposal #3 (Former HB 1002): Impose a mandatory five-year sentence for those convicted of staff assault, served consecutive to a prior sentence, and a $5,000 fine against the inmate’s commissary account.
 

Document #4

Description:
Proposal #4 (Former HB 1000): Prohibit inmate access to boots, as this was the weapon used to kill Sgt. Baserman. Currently, the DOC still allows inmates to possess state-issued boots.
 

Document #5

Introduced as HB1071

Description: Proposal #5 (Former HB 998): Mandate two guards per guard tower armed with autoloading rifles, with a minimum of 500 rounds per rifle pre-loaded in magazines.
 

Document #6

Introduced as HB1070

Description: Proposal #6 (Former HB 997): Restrict commissary eligibility after a staff assault without a regional deputy secretary’s approval.