In May, CSG Justice Center staff continued to refine justice reinvestment policies. In collaboration with the District Attorneys Association and county officials in Philadelphia, CSG Justice Center staff explored potential implementation changes related to sentences to County Intermediate Punishment (CIP) programs, and confirmed for stakeholders that proposed policy changes would allow for counties to have discretion on how to administer these programs. CSG Justice Center staff also continued working with the State Victim Advocate, and other stakeholder to refine and finalize policy options.
CSG Justice Center staff continued development of educational and media materials for distribution in Pennsylvania, and continued working to finalize the final report and other summary documents that outline the justice reinvestment process, detail the challenges facing the state, and the policy recommendations. Additionally, staff worked on documents to provide media outlets covering the process.
In anticipation of a final report release, CSG Justice Center staff coordinated with the Attorney General’s office, Department of Corrections (DOC), and the Governor’s office to strategize the ideal approach to informing the public about the policy framework. In addition to publishing a press release, officials debated the merits of organizing a press conference with participation from key working group members. Alternatively, consideration was given to the possibility of media engagement ramping up later in the calendar year after policies received the full endorsement of key stakeholders.
Lastly, staff continued to track the progress of other criminal justice related policies being discussed in the state, beyond justice reinvestment. Major conversations continue surrounding the potential reinstatement of mandatory minimums and merger of the DOC and Board of Probation and Parole.
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• 5/18- Meeting with PA Department of Corrections Secretary to discuss the projected timeline, project updates, and the proposals to reinstate mandatory minimums and to merge departments.
• 5/19- Meeting With PA Department of Corrections Secretary to discuss strategies for stakeholder engagement.
• 5/2- Call with Pennsylvania Prison Society (Executive Director) to discuss prison population trends and policy changes that contributed to Pennsylvania’s slowly declining prison population.
• 5/4- Call with Governor’s Office (Policy Analyst) to discuss project updates, policy framework, and the projected timeline.
• 5/31- Call with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania to discuss the potential for a pretrial working group.
Phase I research work in Pennsylvania in April included responding to data-related questions for the final report. And updates on projected impact of short sentence parole policies based on the exclusion all of people with personal injury crimes.
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