PRINTER'S NO. 536
No. 47 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. RICHARDSON, HAMMOCK, LEDERER, BLACKWELL,
COWELL, O'DONNELL, BARBER, RHODES, SCIRICA, MRS. TOLL,
MESSRS. GREENFIELD AND IRVIS, FEBRUARY 18, 1975
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 18, 1975
In the House of Representatives, February 18, 1975
1 WHEREAS, It is imperative that the youth of Pennsylvania who
2 have been imprisoned or assigned to any type of correctional
3 institution or rehabilitation facility be treated in a humane
4 manner without needless brutality; and
5 WHEREAS, Allegations have been made that these youths are not
6 receiving proper care and supervision; and
7 WHEREAS, It is in the Commonwealth's and society's best
8 interest to give these youthful offenders the kind of care,
9 treatment, and rehabilitation that will most readily speed their
10 successful return to society and prevent the recurrence of the
11 acts that resulted in their imprisonment; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED, That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
13 appoint a bipartisan committee of nine members, five from the
14 majority party and four from the minority party, to investigate
15 the problems connected with the imprisonment and incarceration
16 of youthful offenders. This investigation shall include, but not
17 be limited to, the following problems:
1 (1) A thorough investigation of all State and county youth
2 institutions in the Commonwealth.
3 (2) Brutality in correctional institutions.
4 (3) The housing of youthful offenders with older offenders.
5 (4) Educational programs in correctional institutions.
6 (5) The amounts being spent per youth in correctional
7 facilities; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That the committee may hold hearings, take
9 testimony, and make its investigation at such places as it deems
10 necessary within this Commonwealth. It may issue subpoenas under
11 the hand and seal of its chairman commanding any person to
12 appear before it and to answer questions touching matters
13 properly being inquired into by the committee and to produce
14 such books, papers, records and documents as the committee deems
15 necessary. Such subpoenas may be served upon any person and
16 shall have the force and effect of subpoenas issued out of the
17 courts of this Commonwealth. Any person who wilfully neglects or
18 refuses to testify before the committee or to produce any books,
19 papers, records or documents, shall be subject to the penalties
20 provided by the laws of the Commonwealth in such case. Each
21 member of the committee shall have power to administer oaths and
22 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the committee; and be
23 it further
24 RESOLVED, That within 30 calendar days after the committee
25 has made its report, the chairman of the committee shall cause a
26 record of all expenses incurred by the committee, or the members
27 thereof, which are payable at Commonwealth expense, to be filed
28 with the Speaker of the House and the Speaker shall cause the
29 same to be entered in the journal thereof. No expenses incurred
30 by the committee or any member thereof shall be reimbursable by
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1 the Chief Clerk unless such expense shall first have been
2 included as an expense item in the record heretofore required;
3 and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the committee report its findings to the House
5 of Representatives as soon as possible.
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