(Central Square) – Without legislative action, “hundreds” of inmates convicted of murder could begin demanding their freedom in just 10 days.
The warning comes from State Attorney General Dave Sunday. He urged the General Assembly to adopt any of the pending measures that would reform sentencing guidelines for people serving mandatory life sentences without parole for second-degree murder.
The provision was introduced four months after the state Supreme Court ruled the existing guidelines unconstitutional, giving the Legislature until July 24 to reconfigure a different sentencing structure.
The ruling results from the belief of Father Derek Leewho is serving a mandatory life sentence for the death of a man during a 2014 home invasion in Pittsburgh. Lee’s attorneys argued that he had no intention of killing the victim and was in another room when the fatal shooting occurred.
Last month, the upper house passed Senate Bill 1400 by a 30-20 vote. The proposal calls for a mandatory sentence of 35 years but provides an option for a lesser sentence depending on the defendant’s involvement in the crime.
(*24*) Senate leaders say that without the modern legislation, more than 1,150 people could apply for release. Sunday estimates the number is slightly smaller, in the “hundreds.”
“Inaction is not an option, in fact it is dangerous,” Sunday said. “The Senate has already responded to the court’s decision with a thoughtful proposal – one on which my office was consulted and that reflects sound policy.
“At this point, we wait for the House to respond to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s mandate. Failure to act would leave our communities and victims without the protections they need, so it is important that we move forward together to ensure a responsible resolution.”
Beth RementerA spokeswoman for the House majority leadership told The Center Square that the chamber remains “willing to negotiate.”
“Unfortunately, Senate Bill 1400 is not it,” she said.
Asked about the mirror bill in the House proposed by Democrats Representative Frank Burns of Cambria County, did not respond.
Center Square failed ahead of publication after seeking comment from Burns on his bill.
Another suggestion by Representative Tim BriggsDemocrat from Montgomery County, would impose a 25-year prison sentence, though he remained on the House Judiciary Committee after a planned April vote was scrapped amid concerns from supporters.
Sunday insisted Governor Josh Shapirowho supports the court’s ruling to take part in the negotiations. During Monday’s news conference, the governor told reporters he was “hopeful they can get there.”
“We have spent a lot of time, especially in the last 48 hours, to see if we can bridge this gap,” he said. “We will continue to work on this issue.”
“I would like to see the Legislature take action on this issue and not leave it up to individual districts,” he added. “I would like to find a consensus and I hope we will succeed.”
Christen Smith is regional editor of The Center Square and co-host of Pennsylvania in Focus, a weekly podcast on America’s Talking Network. You can find her work in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Broad + Liberty, RealClear and the Washington Examiner.
