On Friday, September 13, the Interbranch Commission submitted letters in support of three Pennsylvania Senate bills that would collectively improve the equitable administration of juvenile justice in our Commonwealth.
Senate Bill (“SB”) 170 would establish a standardized, uniform record expungement process for youth, granting them the opportunity to successfully transition into adulthood. Check out our letter here.
SB 751 would eliminate the practice of automatically charging youth as adults in most cases (a process known as “direct file”). The bill would also focus the instances in which juveniles may be transferred from juvenile court to adult criminal court. Review our letter here.
SB 752 would expand diversion programs for youth, reduce the length of time that a young person can spend in detention, reserve out-of-home placements of youth for only the most serious cases, and eliminate continued system involvement due solely to a juvenile’s socioeconomic status. Read our letter here.