Planning a Legislative Visit

• Web-based fill-in form from FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation)
• Fill-in form (Word Doc) from FCNL
• Lobby Visit Planning Sheet (PDF) and examples of other resources from EAD (Ecumenical Advocacy Days)

US Criminal Justice Legislation - 2025-2026

• People's Response Act - proposed U.S. legislation would provide grants to community organzations that reflect an understanding of Public Safety as a matter of public health.

Pennsylvania Criminal Justice Legislation - 2025-2026

  House Calendar

HB166 (Bonner) Raising the burden of proof to impose the death penalty (Memo)
[Supported by ACLU: Commentary]
Juvenile Justice Facilities Package - from Rep. Melissa Shusterman
• HB1577, limits kids from the most egregious conduct by staff in juvenile facilities like cavity searches, being shackled, solitary confinement, and injected with powerful medications. It also makes public the amount of times facilities use these tactics and holds them accountable.
• HB1576 requires the state to reimburse counties for half the cost of legal -representation for kids in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
• HB1573 requires an inventory of all juvenile justice services and facilities to better inform what is – and isn’t – available for kids in the system.

• ---

    Bills Referred to the House Judiciary Committee

  • HB282 (Briggs) Reentry Bill - Medicaid access and 30-day medication supply on reentry (Memo)
  • HB443 (Briggs) Felony Murder - parole eligibility after 25 years (Memo)

  ---

    Bills Referred to Other House Committees

  ---

    Senate Calendar

  ---

    Bills Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee

  • SB75 (Street, Bartolotta) Decriminalization of Cannabis in Pennsylvania (Memo)
  • SB135 (Street) Parole Eligibility for Life Sentences (Memo)
  • SB136 (Street) Medical Parole (Memo)
  • SB360 (Hughes, Kane, Muth) Solitary Confinement Reporting Requirement (Memo)
  • SB279 (Street) Prohibiting the Use of Chokeholds by Those in Law Enforcement (Memo)
  • SB334 (Street) Ending Incarceration of Indigent Unable to Pay Fines, Fees, or Restitution (Memo)

  ---

    Bills Referred to Other Senate Committees

  • SB192 (Street) Absentee Ballots and Voter Access for Incarcerated Individuals (Memo)
    (State Government)

  ---

  ---

    Other Criminal Justice Legislation

  
  Also see 2023-2024 Legislation Summary

  ---

  Proposed Legislation (not yet introduced, seeking co-sponsors):

  • Ending Cash Bail in Pennsylvania (Street)
  • Absentee Ballots and Voter Access for Incarcerated Individuals (Street)
  • Eliminating Medical Co-pays for Incarcerated Individuals (Bartoletta)
  • Prison Industry Enhancement (Bartoletta)
  Juvenile Justice: (Kinkead, Miller, Krajewski, Rabb)
  • Limiting the Use of Solitary Confinement for Juveniles
  • Eliminating Fines and Limiting Court Fees Imposed on Juveniles ... while prioritizing restitution payments for victims.
  • Limiting Juvenile Probation Periods and Use of Delinquency Versus Dependency ... ensures that young people are not removed from their homes unless they pose significant risks to victims or require specialized drug and alcohol, mental health, or sexual behavior treatment.
  • Strengthening education stability for children in placement

  ---

  ACLU-PA (American Civil Liberties Union)

  ACLU Bill Tracker

  ACLU tracks Pennsylvania bills on several topics related to criminal justice, including
  • Criminal Justice Reform
  • Death Penalty
  • Drug Policy Reform
  • Due Process
  • Police Practices
  • Prisoner's Rights
  • Racial Justice
  The bill tracker includes a summary of the bill's provisions, it's status in the legislative process, ACLU's position (for or against the bill), and sometimes other commentaries. (Use the pull-down menu to see bills on a specific topic.)
  Also see ACLU's Pennsylvania Blueprint for Smart Justice (PDF) which makes recommendations for specific legislative reforms.

Death Penalty

• Links to U.S. and State organizations working to end the death penalty

Solitary Confinement

• Entombed: Isolation in the US Federal Prison System (PDF report)

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Model Legislation

• Repeal Stand Your Ground
• Electronic Recording of Interrogations
• Prohibit Profiling
• Bail Reform

NPR commentary about SiX