Harrisburg, PA – April 15, 2025 – Senators Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17) and Patty Kim (D-15) today emphasized their legislation to require Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies Act on death in custody (Dcra). DCRA requires that state and federal law enforcement authorities report all the deaths of people in police detention, according to their jurisdiction, to the federal government.
DCRA was adopted to solve the lack of reliable information about deaths in law enforcement and corrective institutions.
“Last week we recognized the National Public Health Week, an important time to reflect on the elections that we make in politics to protect the public health of our community of nations,” he said Senator Cappelletti. “The Act on death in the field of reporting in custody is an important way to ensure much needed supervision for death in police detention. The integrity of our justice system in criminal matters is crucial for our public health and I hope that we will quickly develop valuable regulations.”
Pennsylvania’s community has one of the highest death rates among people in custody across the country. Unfortunately, the number of people dying in custody is still growing. The death of a state prison in Pennsylvania increased from 171 in 2019 to 239 in 2020.
In the prisons of the Pennsylvania, 56 deaths were registered by the state in 2020. Not only was the highest death rate for 20 years, but less than half of these deaths were reported to the federal government.
“It concerns me that there is a lack of formal process in Pennsylvania, which ensures that reliable information on deaths in law enforcement and prison facilities is reported,” he said Senator Kim. “I am proud of this legislative measure, which is to lend a hand create a more see-through justice system in criminal matters by strengthening reporting requirements and building more responsibility.
Comprehensive reporting of these deaths is to serve as an critical tool for public health and responsibility. Accurate and consistent data provide officials insight into premature death in custody and helps to emphasize practices and politics to create a safer justice system in criminal matters.
These legislation would require all state and local law enforcement agencies and correctional objects to report the death of a person in detention to the General Prosecutor in Pennsylvania within 30 days of death. Any lack of application would be an offense, and agencies can be fined for non -compliance.
Senate Bill 627 He was introduced and directed to the judicial Senate, in which it awaits consideration at the discretion of the chairman. Co -assums Take into account the leader of the Democrat Senate Jay Costa, senator Judah Schwank, senator Nikil Saval, senator Sharif Street, senator John Kane, senator Katie Muth and senator Lindsey Williams.
Learn more about the regulations Here. See the dissertation of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee on the provisions here. Learn more about the problem Here.
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