Pennsylvania
FAMM to host press event with bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers supporting Second Chance legislation
For Media Inquiries:John Norton, 202-999-4268jnorton@famm.org
FAMM to host press event with bipartisan group of Pennsylvania lawmakers supporting Second Chance legislation
HARRISBURG – FAMM will host a “Second Chance Legislation” presser at the Media Center in the Pennsylvania state Capitol with a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Monday, June 26th at 10:00 a.m.
This event will highlight legislation that creates more pathways for incarcerated individuals to receive second chances. Lawmakers will be joined by people who have been positively impacted by second-chance opportunities, who will advocate for the expansion of such policies.
The participants are:
· State Sen. Sharif Street (D)· State Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R) · State Rep. Stephen Kinsey (D)· State Rep. Torren Ecker (R)· Celeste Trusty, FAMM Pennsylvania State Policy Director· Bryan Widenhouse, FAMM Policy Associate· Kevin “Amir” Bowman· Erik VanZant · Lee Horton · Dennis Horton
“FAMM is grateful that there are leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly who champion Second Chances for those who are incarcerated,” said Trusty. “This bipartisan press event will shine a spotlight on the issues that we hope will advance in the State House and Senate this year. They include bills that expand clemency and medical and geriatric release opportunities, while other bills seek to end mandatory life-without-parole sentences. All these proposed reforms can be accomplished while maintaining public safety.”
Pennsylvania sends too many people to prison for too long, which is why it has the highest incarceration rate in the Northeastern U.S. and the second-highest number of people serving life without parole sentences in the country. The state houses thousands of aging and sick people who pose no public risk and whose continued incarceration unnecessarily burdens taxpayers. The current sentencing laws severely limit pathways to relief from excessive punishment.
FAMM’s Second Chances Agenda includes ending life without parole, passing medical and geriatric release mechanisms, and broadly expanding clemency.
For more than three decades, FAMM has united the voices of affected families, the formerly incarcerated, and a range of stakeholders and advocates to fight for a fairer and more effective justice system. FAMM has led the fight to reform extreme mandatory sentencing laws and to promote rehabilitation and dignity for all people in prison, 94 percent of whom will return to our neighborhoods one day.
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FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies that safely reduce incarceration, save taxpayer dollars, and keep families together. Founded in 1991, FAMM has secured bold sentencing and prison reform across the country while elevating the voices of directly impacted individuals and families.
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