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Death Penalty
Sponsors Include
Greenleaf
Orie
Costa
Bill ID
SB 334
PN 344
Description
Provides sentencing procedures for first degree murder in cases of mental retardation, particularly in cases where the death penalty is applicable.
Bill Status
Introduced in the Senate, 3/3/2005
Sponsors Include
Mandarino
Fairchild
Bill ID
HB 1410
PN 1699
Description
Prohibits the imposition of the death sentence in cases of mental retardation
Bill Status
Introduced in the House,
Referred to Judiciary, 4/20/2005
Position
The Prison Society opposes the use of the death penalty under any circumstances.
Sponsors Include
O'Brien
Belfanti
Bill ID
HB 1399
PN 1687
Description
A sentence of death may not be imposed on a defendant who was not 18 years of age at the time of the crime.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House,
Referred to Judiciary, 4/14/2005
Position
The Prison Society opposes the use of the death penalty under any circumstances.
Alternate Sentencing/Special Courts/Diversion Programs/Miscellaneous
Sponsors Include
Leach
Bill ID
HB 1233
PN 1446
Description
HB 1233 provides for the establishment of county mental health courts and calls for additional services including special mental health training for law enforcement and judicial personnel, case management, and continued supervision of a treatment plan while the individual is on parole or probation.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary, 3/30/05
Position
The Prison Society supports the use of alternative sentencing that includes treatment. Concern with this legislation exists because it is an unfunded mandate and there are not enough treatment facilities in certain areas of the state to meet the demand this bill may generate.
Sponsors Include
Orie
Boscola
Tartaglione and Vance
Bill ID
SB 657
PN 751
Description
Legislation requiring sexually violent predators to wear a global position satellite service device to monitor their movements for the remainder of their lives.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary, 4/28/05
Sponsors Include
Cruz
Youngblood
Keller
Bill ID
HB 387
PN 414
Description
Legislation calling for the posting on the internet of all names and addresses of sex offenders. Under current law, only addresses of people deemed "sexually violent predators" are posted.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary, 2/9/05
Position
The Prison Society opposes the further stigmatization and ongoing punishment of people who have served their sentences.
Sponsors Include
James
Thomas
Williams
Bill ID
HB 751
PN 842
Description
Seeks to address prison overcrowding by abolishing mandatory minimums for certain non-violent offenses.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House, 2/25/2005
Sponsors Include
Kasunic
Costa
Boscola
Bill ID
SB 282
PN 289
Description
Establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for arsonists who set fire to a building where people are present. Those who set fires to an unoccupied building would receive a 2 year minimum sentence.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House, 2/15/2005
Sponsors Include
Gergely
Clymer
Eachus
Bill ID
HB 1318
PN 2366
Description
Prohibits convicted felons from voting during their sentences and strengthens voter identification requirements.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House, 4/11/2005
Referred to State Government, 4/11/05
Passed in House, 6/28/05
Sponsors Include
Orie
Kitchen
Rafferty
Bill ID
SB 374
PN 375
Description
Establishes a separate mental health court division.
Bill Status
Introduced in Senate, 3/10/2005
Referred to Judiciary.
Sponsors Include
Washington
Caltagirone
Bill ID
HR 206
PN 1309
Description
A Resolution urging the Federal Government and states with death penalty statutes to pass bills imposing a moratorium on the death penalty.
Bill Status
Introduced in House 3/29/2005
Referred to Judiciary.
Sponsors Include
Bishop
Bebko-Jones
Bill ID
HR 210
PN 1411
Description
A Resolution establishing a special committee to study conditions inState prisons.
Bill Status
Introduced in House, 3/30/2005
Referred to Judiciary.
Sponsors Include
Washington
James
DeWeese
Bill ID
HR 204
PN 1307
Description
A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to repeal mandatory minimum sentencing.
Bill Status
Introduced in House, 3/29/2005
Referred to Judiciary.
Position
The Prison Society encourages the repeal of mandatory sentences, which increase the prison population, impose unfair punishment and remove discretion from judges.
Sponsors Include
Argall
DeWeese, Bennighoff
Goodman
Bill ID
HB 1235
PN 1448
Description
Implements staffing requirements as well as limitations on inmate capacity at state correction institutes.
Bill Status
Introduced in House, 3/30/2005
Referred to Judiciary, 3/30/05
Passed House, 6/29/05
Position
The Prison Society does not believe that legislating staff levels at prisons is necessary to ensure the safety of prisoners, staff and the community
Sponsors Include
Greenleaf
Lemmond
O'Pake
Bill ID
SB 562
PN 594
Description
An Act establishing the Capital Case Representation Resource Center of Pennsylvania for capital offense litigation; and providing for its duties and responsibilities.
Bill Status
Introduced in Senate, 3/31/2005
Referred to Judiciary.
Position
The Prison Society believes that especially in cases of death sentences, the accused should have access to the best possible legal resources.
Sponsors Include
Feese
Bill ID
HB 1784
PN 2322
Description
Closes a loophole that excludes individuals convicted of conspiracy or solicitation to commit a sexual-based crime from filing as a registered sex offnder and submitting a DNA sample.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary,6/23/05
Sponsors Include
James
Evans
Kirkland
Bill ID
HB 1133
PN 1339
Description
Called the "earned time" or "good time" bill, this establishes a system of earned time toward parole.
Bill Status
Introduced in House 3/29/2005
Referred to Judiciary.
Position
The Prison Society supports the concept of rewarding positive behavior while incarcerated with early parole.
Sponsors Include
Rhoades
Lemmond
Orie
Bill ID
SB 362
PN 422
Description
Implements staffing level requirements as well as limitations on inmate capacity at State correctional institutions.
Bill Status
Introduced in the Senate, 3/16/2005
Referred to Judiciary.
Position
The Prison Society does not believe that legislating staff levels at prisons is necessary to ensure the safety of prisoners, staff and the community.
Sponsors Include
Greenleaf
Costa
Lemmond
Bill ID
SB 558
PN 591
Description
Defines when deadly force is necessary when a correctional officer is in pursuit of an escaped prisoner.
Bill Status
Referred to the Judiciary
Sponsors Include
Washington
Bishop
Bebko-Jones
Bill ID
HR 198
PN 1301
Description
A Resolution urging automatic reinstatement of voter registration upon completion of sentence.
Bill Status
Referred to State Government
Sponsors Include
Baker
Thomas
Clymer
Bill ID
HB 1348
PN 1606
Description
Establishes a statute that requires restitution payments for collateral injury- any professional services needed to reverse negative effects of crime, including credit report services.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House,
Referred to Judiciary, 4/12/2005.
Position
The Prison Society is opposed to requiring additional fees which are difficult to pay back given a prisoner's limited resources and also impose an additional punishment after their sentencing.
Sponsors Include
MacKereth
Miller
Gillespie
Bill ID
HB 115
PN 911
Description
Requires certain sexually violent offenders to be electronically monitored through the establishment of a global position satellite system.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House,
Referred to Judiciary, 3/14/2005
Position
The Prison Society opposes the further stigmatization and ongoing punishment of prisoners who have served their sentences.
Sponsors Include
Vance
White
Boscola
Bill ID
SB 224
PN 216
Description
Bans a person from working in a hospital for 10 years if they committed an offense that is related to misuse of property or convictions that include irresponsible and inappropriate behavior.
Bill Status
Introduced in the Senate, 2/8/2005
Referred to Public Health and Welfare.
Position
The Prison Society opposes the further stigmatization and ongoing punishment of prisoners who have served their sentences.
Sponsors Include
Boscola
Musto
D. White
Bill ID
SB 701/702
PN 838/839
Description
Legislation which would eliminate idle pay, while trying to create public works jobs so that all those incarcerated who are able to work have a job. House Representative Jennifer Mann will be introducing similar legislation this month.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary, 5/23/2005
Sponsors Include
Siproth
Dally
Caltagirone
Bill ID
HB 1647
PN 2031
Description
Legislation that would increase indecent assault against a child younger than 13 from first degree misdemeanor to third degree felony. Indecent assault in general would be upgraded from second degree misdemeanor to first degree. Sister Bill is SB 110
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary 6/6/2005.
Sponsors Include
Mellow
Musto
Boscola
Bill ID
SB 110
PN 857
Description
Legislation that would increase indecent assault against a child younger than 13 from first degree misdemeanor to third degree felony. Indecent assault in general would be upgraded from second degree misdemeanor to first degree. Sister Bill is HB 1647.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary 6/03/2005.
Sponsors Include
Grucela
Blaum
Bill ID
HB 1562
PN 1937
Description
This legislation will change the information made available on sex offenders on the Internet. Currently, only sexually violent predators have their full address posted. This legislation will require that all sexual offenders have their full address posted on the Internet.
Bill Status
Introduced in the House, 5/10/2005
Referred to the Judiciary, 5/10/2005.
Position
The Prison Society opposes the further stigmatization and ongoing punishment of prisoners who have served their sentences.
Sponsors Include
Solobay
Bill ID
HB 1160
PN 1366
Description
Permits first-time offenders to petition for the expungement of nonviolent summary offenses five years after completeing thei sentence. Nonviolent misdemeanor offenses could be expunged after 10 years. The measure would not apply if the person committed a crime during the waiting period.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary, 3/29/2005.
Sponsors Include
Dally
Bill ID
HB 1496
PN 1832
Description
Legislation which further dictates the allocation of funds collected under the DNA Detection Fund. $50 will go towards the county expenses for collecting the DNA sample, $200 will go toward the Pennsylvania State Police.
Bill Status
Referred to Judiciary 6/03/2005.
Sponsors Include
Payne
Belfanti
Bill ID
HB 1575
PN 1976
Description
Legislation that would increase the mandatory minimums for those convicted of offenses against individuals 16 and under
Bill Status
Introduced in House, 5/12/2005,
Referred to Judiciary, 5/12/2005.
Position
The Prison Society opposes mandatory sentences, which increase the prison population, impose unfair punishment, and remove discretion from judges.