1Directing the Joint State Government Commission to establish an
2advisory committee to conduct a study on the inefficiencies
3of the criminal justice system in this Commonwealth.

4WHEREAS, The United States has one of the highest
5incarceration rates of all industrialized nations in the world;
6and

7WHEREAS, Between 1980 and 2012, the population of
8incarcerated offenders in this Commonwealth increased; and

9WHEREAS, The number of offenders in this Commonwealth under
10the supervision of a State or county entity has also increased
11during the same period; and

12WHEREAS, During this period, significant resources were
13utilized for the enactment, implementation and enforcement of
14mandatory minimum sentences for a variety of criminal offenses;
15and

16WHEREAS, The General Assembly has recently taken significant
17steps to address the issues of prison overcrowding, high
18incarceration rates and the financial strain resulting from

1those issues by enacting proactive legislation; and

2WHEREAS, It is important for the General Assembly to continue
3to review and propose improvements to the criminal justice
4system that will provide for public safety, victim services,
5reductions in recidivism, successful re-entry into society by
6offenders and responsible spending by the Commonwealth and its
7political subdivisions; therefore be it

8RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Joint State Government
9Commission to establish an advisory committee of approximately
1030 members consisting of public officials and experts to conduct
11a balanced report, encompassing a wide range of backgrounds and
12viewpoints, on all of the following issues:

13(1) Criminal prosecutions and defense.

14(2) Judicial administration and sentencing.

15(3) Offender supervision and offender reentry.

16(4) Victim services;

17and be it further

18RESOLVED, That the advisory committee conduct a report with a
19thorough and comprehensive analysis of the following:

20(1) Alternatives to the prosecution and incarceration of
21low-level, nonviolent crimes.

22(2) Enhancing re-entry programs that result in the
23reintegration of offenders into society and result in reduced
24recidivism.

25(3) Achieving uniformity in criminal charging,
26prosecution and sentencing to avoid and eliminate disparities
27between jurisdictions in this Commonwealth.

28(4) Sentencing reform to eliminate unnecessary mandatory
29minimum sentences that prohibit or prevent the use of
30alternative sentencing or rehabilitation strategies.

1(5) Prioritizing prosecutions by State and local
2officials to focus on the most serious crimes, such as
3violent crimes.

4(6) Directing resources from all levels of law
5enforcement that enhance community-oriented policing to
6assist vulnerable populations and victim input, including
7coordinating with public, private and parochial schools.

8(7) Proposed reforms of the criminal justice system made
9to the House Judiciary Committee and Senate Judiciary
10Committee, recent State laws pertaining to the criminal
11justice system and sentencing guidelines as adopted by the
12Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.

13(8) Proposed reforms and best practices from other
14states regarding the inefficiencies of the criminal justice
15system;

16and be it further

17RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission
18establish a process by which interested members of the public
19can make suggestions and have input; and be it further

20RESOLVED, That the report include any recommendations to
21propose or amend any law, regulation or policy to reduce
22reliance on mandatory minimum sentences, address recidivism and
23promote rehabilitation and successful re-entry in a cost-
24effective manner; and be it further

25RESOLVED, That the report of the Joint State Government
26Commission be sent to the Judiciary Committee and the Public
27Heath and Welfare Committee of the Senate no later than December
2831, 2014.