SB 501 | Justice Reinvestment Initiative II

Session: 2019-2020

ACLU-PA Position: Opposes

SB 501 is one of three Justice Reinvestment (JRI) bills introduced this session — SB 500, SB 501, and SB 502. Together, they are referred to as JRI II. The ACLU-PA supports the other two bills -- SB 500 (Baker) and SB 502 (Bartolotta), but opposes SB 501, which would:

• Reinstate mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses against minors.
• Impose a new mandatory period of parole for people serving a sentence of 4 to 8 years (or longer) of state incarceration, even if that person is not granted parole during their incarceration.
• Create an unconstitutional revocation procedure that allows courts to revoke probation and incarcerate someone without requisite due process protections.
• Excessively garnish wages and commissary accounts.
• Allow courts to revoke probation for vague threats to public safety.
• Establish problematic risk assessment procedures.

Senate Bill 501 was enacted as Act No. 115 of 2019.