Gov. Wolf Signs 2 Criminal Justice Reform Bills Into Law

HARRISBURG, PA — Gov. Wolf signed two bipartisan bills into law Thursday to reform the state criminal justice system.

The bills, collectively known as the second Justice Reinvestment Initiative or JRI 2, chages sentencing guidelines and expands drug treat programs to effectively keep more people out of jail.

With the savings, the money is reinvested into programs that reduce recidivism, hopefully bringing even more savings while improving public safety.

“Emphasizing drug treatment and punishments other than incarceration for those convicted of non-violent crimes is the right thing to do for taxpayers, our communities, and the offenders themselves,” said State Sen. Tom Killion, who sponsored the two bills, Senate Bills 500 and 501. "Breaking the cycle of addiction by streamlining the placement of offenders in drug treatment will make our criminal justice system more efficient, improve public safety and reduce the burden we ask taxpayers to bear."

Additionally, the bill strengthens support for county probation programs, and provides more funding toward rehabilitation of prisoners about to reenter society.

More of the focus, officials hope, will be placed on actually correcting the root problem, Gov. Wolf's office said.

Pennsylvania's high recidivism rate currently costs the state about 224 million annually, according to an estimate from the Commonwealth Foundation.

Reforming sentencing guidelines is perhaps the central part of these new laws. Terms of probation will be better informed, and criminal history will be heavily weighed when determining potential risk. This means that first time offenders are, hopefully, given a better chance at not becoming lifelong criminals.

Furthermore, the process by which drug offenders apply to a motivational boot camp, which reduces can reduce prison sentences once completed, has been simplified.

Gov. Wolf's office is hopeful the new legislation will save the state up to $45 million