Good morning Wednesday, dear seekers.
While they complain about the roughly $3 billion a year the commonwealth spends on prisons, probation and parole, Pennsylvania lawmakers spent the 2019-2020 legislative session passing bills that send more people to prison and keep them longer, up-to-date report found.
The 253-member General Assembly introduced 280 up-to-date bills, roughly one-fifth of the 1,500 pieces of legislation introduced during the two-year legislative session, resulting in 15 up-to-date felonies and misdemeanors being passed with bipartisan support, which imposed 26 up-to-date penalties, research by American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania he stated.
These actions “have created more opportunities for police and prosecutors to arrest, fine and imprison – all in the face of a deadly pandemic and recession,” according to the report, which calls the General Assembly “bipartisan crime factory“, he concludes.
These votes also came “at a time when widespread protests against racist policing and police violence have underscored the need to reduce contacts between police and communities and dramatically reduce our current system of mass incarceration,” the report said. “Ending Pennsylvania’s public policy of mass incarceration starts with the Legislature.”
And if lawmakers actually introduced laws that opened up up-to-date possibilities in the fight against crime, that would be one thing. But as a up-to-date report makes clear, this is not the case. The report found that when it was first passed in 1972, the current state penal code covered just 282 felonies and collateral offenses.
According to data published over the last forty years, the penal code has expanded to cover over 1,500 crimes and secondary crimes. ACLU-PAwith most of the “new” crimes created by the General Assembly already being covered by the laws in force in 1972.
Studies have shown that these up-to-date laws are disproportionately applied to people of color. Lawmakers’ actions also adversely impact women and LGBTQ residents in Pennsylvania while doing nothing to address the root causes of crime.
“As lawmakers expand criminalized conduct, upgrade misdemeanor offenses to felonies, adopt mandatory minimum sentences and implement new sentencing enhancements, sentences are becoming longer and more punitive,” the report says: “People convicted of repeat offenses remain in prison , while these sentences run after each other.”
As a result, “the threat of such a severe penalty for a single charged offense enables prosecutors to coerce individuals into pleading guilty without a trial, undermining any pretense that our criminal legal system in Pennsylvania is primarily focused on delivering justice,” the report concluded.
The report’s authors note that once released from prison, formerly incarcerated people continue to pay for their crimes in a much less apparent, but no less devastating, way.
“There are 879 collateral consequences for criminal convictions in Pennsylvania,” according to the report, which makes clear that people convicted of a crime face particularly harsh penalties because they “may limit access to government benefits, financial aid for college, housing, employment and prohibit someone from serving on a jury or running for public office.”
And every up-to-date sanction [makes] “development of individuals and communities is more difficult”, the ACLU-PA notes.
The ACLU The report identifies two legislative reforms adopted during the 2019-2020 session, one of which relaxed professional licensing requirements so that people with previous convictions are not immediately excluded from obtaining a license to, for example, work as a hairdresser and earn a living. Another law provides for the expungement of case records if the case ends with an acquittal. When someone receives a pardon, their records in connection with committing that crime are sealed.
Ultimately, though, if lawmakers want to break the cycle, the report offers some refreshingly basic advice.
“The first step is to simply stop introducing and passing laws that add up-to-date crimes and penalties. In the case of our penal code, more law still means less justice,” conclude the authors of the report.
Our stuff.
This is the third time the Republican-controlled state House has done so approved a law banning abortion for people with Down syndrome. Once again, Governor Tom Wolf he promised to veto this decision. Stephen Caruso has details.
Using the statewide powers Pennsylvania voters passed to the Legislature last month referendum vote, on Tuesday night, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted along party lines finally end Governor Tom Wolf State of emergency related to the Covid-19 disaster and related enforcement powers, Caruso also reports.
About twenty Republicans in the House of Representatives threaten to withhold nearly $32 million in state funding for headquarters in Philadelphia University of Pennsylvania Health System on employee vaccination policy, Caruso further reports.
His legacy is at stake, Governor Tom Wolf and his Democratic allies in the General Assembly are involved in financing education. Meanwhile, there is a dispute in the General Assembly over charter school reform. Marley Parish has details.
Pennsylvania A up-to-date unemployment benefit system was introduced on Tuesdayreplacing an archaic system that has led to misery for people receiving benefits during the pandemic. Kasia Miller has a history.
Philadelphia launched a lottery for the Covid-19 vaccineawarding a grand prize of $50,000 as a way to encourage city residents to get vaccinated, our foundation partners Philadelphia Tribune report.
In the face of growing criticism and calls for his resignation Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen ZappalaDemocrat, rescinded a controversial policy that halted settlements for clients of a prominent black lawyer who called his office racist, our partners at Pittsburgh City Document report.
Opinions appear regularly on our comments page Bruce Ledewitz claims that Congress does not need the January 6 commission – needs someone to convince millions of Americans that the election was not stolen. And regular opinion Anwar Curtis pays tribute educational heroes of the pandemic in Harrisburg.
Elsewhere.
Questioning looks at the convoluted relationships between communities of color in Philadelphia that have lost so much during the pandemic they have with reopening.
Pennsylvania parents are giving public schools high marks for performances during the pandemic, named after Grandstand overview reports, citing a up-to-date survey by Pennsylvania School Boards Association.
Unemployed Pennsylvanians are “furious” about problems with the state’s up-to-date unemployment system — even when officials declare victory, PA reflector reports (via PennLive).
Due to the closure of the mass vaccination site in Lancaster County, Lancaster on the Internet provides tips on how area residents can get a second chance (payment).
Morning call has his opinion on Tuesday’s House vote to rescind Gov. Tom Wolf’s disaster declaration.
The Luzern County Council accepted County Manager David Pedri’s resignation, Voice of Citizens reports (paywall).
Contractor at York County Jail used prisoners in films, York daily record reports, citing emails.
Here’s your #Pittsburgh Instagram of the Day:
Most activities are protected for teenage, unvaccinated children, WHY-FM reports.
Facing federal investigation, AT employees PSERS they stepped back ‘following revelations that employees were on both sides of real estate transactions,” PA reflector also reports (via WITF-FM).
Officials at Washington’s health care system they are in SWPA encouraging area residents to get vaccinated, the Observer-Reporter reports.
Call notes wonders what to do about the problem like Joe Manchin.
What’s going on.
Both the House and Senate will arrive at 11 a.m. today. Here is an overview of the day’s events and the committee’s agenda.
9:30, 205 Ryan: House of Representatives Finance Committee
9:30, G50 Irvis: House of Representatives Health Committee
10:00, Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Grove: Rally on veterans bills.
10:00, Media Center: News about girls wrestling being recognized in the state.
10:00, 515 Irvis North: House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs
10:00, B31 Capitol Main: House of Representatives Commerce Committee
10:00, 60EW: Home Insurance Commission
10:00, 523 Irvis South: House State Government Committee
11:00, Capitol steps: Gift ban rally
Call of the Chair, 140 Main Capitol: House Appropriations Committee
What’s Going On (Naked Political Edition).
8 a.m.: Breakfast for Representative Darisha Parker
8 a.m.: Breakfast for Rep. Perry Warren
8 a.m.: Breakfast for Rep. Josh Kail
18:00: Party for Senator Mike Regan
Drive around the track and give it your all, and today you can win a completely ridiculous $11,000.
Wolf watch.
Governor Tom Wolf anchors the 2 p.m. news in the Harrisburg branch Y.M.C.A where he will talk about the protection of voting rights.
You say it’s your birthday.
My best wishes are sent this morning to Brendan Kinney On CBS-21 in Harrisburg and Mike ManzoWith Triad Strategiesthey are both celebrating today. Congratulations, people. Enjoy your day.
Heavy rotation.
I start my morning with this a powerful playlist with Northern Soul pads. Because sometimes you need a dose of soul, mod and ska to start your work day off right.
Wednesday free hockey call.
Sigh. Tampa off Karolina in their fifth match Central Branch playoff series, on Tuesday night, he won 2-0. Thank you for this whole life Whale Sticks fan for Chicks for an amazing season. You can now cheer Montreal endure it all this year.
And now you’re up to date.
