Criminal Justice Reform

Pa. Senate Passes Legislation Removing Employment Barriers

  • Jessica Barnett
  • November 23, 2019

Individuals like Ericka Miller and Amanda Spillane are one step closer to having a fair opportunity to pursue success and live their American dream. On Thursday, the state Senate…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Rallying for Probation Reform

  • Jessica Barnett
  • September 27, 2019

Earlier this week, hundreds of activists gathered in the capitol in support of probation reform. Here’s what Pennsylvanians impacted by the probation system have to say: “I couldn’t…

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Criminal Justice Reform

School to Prison Pipeline? Here’s the Escape Valve

  • Marc LeBlond
  • August 21, 2019

Anthony Samuels is “the only male in my family that doesn’t have a record.” Rather, Anthony is a college graduate and a business owner. At an age when many…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Should Pa. Wreck Lives Over a Technicality?

  • Jessica Barnett
  • May 16, 2019

Pennsylvania’s correctional system has a “revolving door” problem. Over 63 percent of the correctional population will return to prison within three years. To change Pennsylvania’s reputation as “imprisonment king”…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Smart on Crime Reforms in 2017-18

  • Elizabeth Stelle, Marc LeBlond
  • December 20, 2018

“If it's failed policy, we should have the courage to leave it and let it go.” This poignant quote from former Senator Stewart Greenleaf encapsulates the essence of recent…

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Criminal Justice Reform

Bipartisan Support for a Second Chance

  • June 28, 2018

We all deserve a second chance. This is the core principle underlying “clean slate” legislation, which the legislature overwhelmingly approved last week. The measure, House Bill 1419, sponsored by…

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State Budget

State Budget 2018: Policy Victories & Missed Opportunities

  • June 26, 2018

With a signed state budget, it’s time to review the policy victories and missed opportunities that define the 2018-19 spending package. Victories Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) expansion: Lawmakers approved…

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Public Union Democracy

SB 166 Falls Short in the House

  • Jessica Barnett
  • December 13, 2017

Last night, Pennsylvania’s government union leaders preserved their exclusive political privilege. By a close vote of 90-102, the state House voted down SB 166 which would have prohibited…

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Regulation

Gov. Wolf Signs Historic Pension Reform

  • Elizabeth Stelle
  • June 13, 2017

Yesterday Governor Wolf signed transformative pension reform. SB 1 will establish a side-by-side hybrid plan for new employees, greatly reducing taxpayer risk and laying the foundation for further reform.

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