Criminal Justice Reform
One act of love can reform a system failing juvenile offenders
Originally published in The Philadelphia Inquirer Aqilah David’s journey began with an act of love. Living alone with her 10-year-old brother and 6-year-old sister — partially due to adults…
Read More: One act of love can reform a system failing juvenile offendersPennsylvania’s Justice Reinvestment Initiatives of 2012 and 2019 successfully reduced the state’s prison population while maintaining community safety. But our work is far from over. With a state recidivism rate of 41 percent, now is the time for reforms that promote reintegration into society and enable the criminal justice system to focus its resources where it counts. Pennsylvania can continue to lead the nation in powerful criminal justice reforms that preserve public safety, save taxpayer resources, and promote true rehabilitation.
Criminal Justice Reform
Keystone Criminal Justice
As lifelong conservatives, we’re proud to call ourselves tough on crime and to support lengthy prison terms for dangerous felons. But after a long, taxpayer-funded era of mass incarceration, it’s…
Commentary
Read More: Keystone Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice Reform
My Journey to Commonwealth Foundation’s Board
How did a registered Democrat and the daughter of former Democratic Governor George Leader find a place on Commonwealth Foundation’s Board? …
Commentary
Read More: My Journey to Commonwealth Foundation’s BoardCriminal Justice Reform
2012 Corrections Reform Still Paying Off
Yesterday, Gov. Wolf and Secretary of Corrections John Wetzel announced that Pennsylvania’s prison population declined last year by the largest amount since 1971. The number of imates declined by…
Media
Read More: 2012 Corrections Reform Still Paying OffCriminal Justice Reform
Protect Property Owners from Unreasonable Forfeiture
Our justice system is supposed to presume innocence until guilt is proven, but every year, Pennsylvanians are stripped of about $14 million on allegations that their property was involved in…
Commentary
Read More: Protect Property Owners from Unreasonable ForfeitureCriminal Justice Reform
Audio: Guilty Until Proven Innocent?
In Pennsylvania, civil asset forfeiture laws allow law enforcement agents to legally seize property without convicting an individual of a crime. These laws turn justice on its head, allowing police…
Media
Read More: Audio: Guilty Until Proven Innocent?Criminal Justice Reform
The Jury is In: Corrections Reform is Working
Remember the time lawmakers from both parties came together in Harrisburg and unanimously passed important, groundbreaking reform legislation? It’s not a joke. It happened in 2012. As a result of…
Media
Read More: The Jury is In: Corrections Reform is WorkingCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania State Budget Toolkit
The enacted $29 billion General Fund budget (a 1.88 percent increase over 2013-2014) and $71.4 billion total operating budget represent Pennsylvania’s highest spending levels ever—exceeding years when federal stimulus dollars…
Fact Sheet
Read More: Pennsylvania State Budget ToolkitCriminal Justice Reform
Corrections Reform Proves a Win-Win
Unprecedented reductions in the prison population, $69.9 million in taxpayer savings, and lower recidivism rates all indicate that the 2012 corrections reforms are working. Earlier this month Don Gilliland over…
Media
Read More: Corrections Reform Proves a Win-WinCriminal Justice Reform
Obama Learns from Pa. on Corrections Reform
Criminal justice policy that offers less spending, lower crime and improved outcomes for offenders—too good to be true? Actually, that is the result of recent corrections reforms in…
Media
Read More: Obama Learns from Pa. on Corrections ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Milestone Corrections Reform Offers Taxpayer Savings
On the heels of Pennsylvania’s historic decline in prison population—the largest one-year decline in four decades—the Department of Corrections announced today the imminent closure of two older prisons.
Media
Read More: Milestone Corrections Reform Offers Taxpayer SavingsCriminal Justice Reform
Three of Four Alarms Still Ringing
Late last month, the Independent Fiscal Office released its annual report looking at Pennsylvania’s economy and forecasting state budget expenditures and revenues. The trends remain alarming. Most notably, state…
Media
Read More: Three of Four Alarms Still RingingCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Gets Landmark Corrections Reform
On Tuesday, Pennsylvania passed the final piece, House Bill 135, of a landmark corrections reform package that transforms our ailing prison system to one that works better for YOU. Commonwealth Foundation…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Gets Landmark Corrections ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Corrections Home Run for Gov. Corbett?
Under Gov. Tom Corbett’s leadership, Pennsylvania unanimously passed (Senate Bill 100) part of a landmark corrections reform package last session. SB 100, now Act 122 of 2012, aims to…
Media
Read More: Corrections Home Run for Gov. Corbett?Criminal Justice Reform
Don’t Fire Arrows without Arrowheads in Corrections Reform
Reforming our state corrections system is not being soft on crime—it is being smart on crime. To achieve transformative corrections reform, lawmakers should finish this critical legislative package and build…
Commentary
Read More: Don’t Fire Arrows without Arrowheads in Corrections ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Passes Proven Prison Reform
Pennsylvania's inmate population and rate of recidivism have reached crisis levels in recent years. Since 1980, Pennsylvania's inmate population increased over 500% between 1980 and 2009. …
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania Passes Proven Prison ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania Passes Landmark Corrections Reform
On Monday, Pennsylvania passed landmark legislation to replace decades of ineffective and expensive corrections policies with reforms that make our communities safer and save taxpayers money. Commonwealth Foundation thanks…
Media
Read More: Pennsylvania Passes Landmark Corrections ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Corrections Reform: Don’t Fire Arrows Without Arrowheads
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative, commissioned by Gov. Tom Corbett and led by national corrections reform experts, generated broad bipartisan support for a reform package that will: Make the…
Media
Read More: Corrections Reform: Don’t Fire Arrows Without ArrowheadsCriminal Justice Reform
Pennsylvania’s Blueprint for Better Public Safety
As Pennsylvania confronts another tight budget, Governor Corbett and legislative leaders must address the skyrocketing costs of prisons. Obviously, there are dangerous people who should be locked up to protect…
Commentary
Read More: Pennsylvania’s Blueprint for Better Public SafetyCriminal Justice Reform
You Can Spend Less, Get More with Real Corrections Reform
What is it they say about things that are out of sight? Oh, yes, out of mind. That might be one of the reasons why our corrections system has become…
Media
Read More: You Can Spend Less, Get More with Real Corrections ReformCriminal Justice Reform
Unlocking Corrections Reform: A Summary of SB 100
A Look at Senate Bill 100 SB 100 incorporates evidence-based reforms to make the state’s corrections system more efficient by keeping low-risk cases out of prison in favor of…
Media
Read More: Unlocking Corrections Reform: A Summary of SB 100Criminal Justice Reform
Committee Advances Real Corrections Reform
Policymakers moved one step closer to replacing Pennsylvania’s ineffective corrections policies with those that lower crime rates, reduce re-offending, and control spending. During today’s House Judiciary committee, Rep. Glen Grell…
Media
Read More: Committee Advances Real Corrections Reform