Posted: | March 22, 2019 01:03 PM |
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From: | Senator Camera Bartolotta and Sen. Vincent J. Hughes, Sen. Art Haywood |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI2) Legislation – Amend Crime Victims Act |
In the past decade, we have taken a Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) approach to reduce corrections spending and reinvest savings in strategies to reduce recidivism and improve public safety. In 2012, the General Assembly approved Act 122 and Act 196, based on a JRI policy framework. Since that time, our state agencies and other criminal justice system stakeholders have made policy implementation a priority. The General Assembly established a bipartisan, interbranch Justice Reinvestment Working Group under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). This group conducted a comprehensive analysis of extensive data and did much to develop policy options for the General Assembly’s consideration. In 2018, Senator Stewart Greenleaf introduced a package of bills aimed to build upon the success of JRI in the form of SB 1070, SB 1071, and SB 1072. This second phase of reform would help further reduce the prison population and help continue to save millions in taxpayer dollars. All three bills were unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 19, 2018 and unanimously approved by the full Senate on April 25, 2018. The Senate also approved House Bill 285 PN 4272, which contained language similar to SB 1071, by a vote of 48-1 on October 17, 2018. These bills were not considered by the House prior to the last scheduled voting session day in the 2017-2018 Legislative Session. We remain focused on the second phase of JRI2 reform and are hopeful to continue to build upon our accomplishments and successes. In the near future, we intend to reintroduce this package of bills in the form of three pieces of legislation. This particular piece of legislation will be similar to SB 1072 PN 1650 of the 2017-2018 Legislative Session which was cosponsored by the following Senators: Leach, Hughes, Schwank, Yudichak, Browne and Street. This bill would amend the Crime Victims Act to better provide information and compensation to victims. Specifically, the bill would update definitions in the Act; adding notice of the Address Confidentiality Program, and providing a right to notice of placement in the state drug offender treatment program. The bill would also allow counties to retain all supervision fees they collect. Please join us in cosponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as SB502