DeLuca’s Crawshaw Bill Aims to Strengthen Parole Restrictions

Legislation designed to strengthen current parole restrictions for repeat violent offenders, and championed by state Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, passed in the state House of Representatives earlier this week.

House Bill 645 creates additional parole restrictions for repeat offenders of violent crime, according to DeLuca, whose district covers Plum and Verona boroughs.

"The legislation provides that a person convicted of a second or subsequent violent crime would not be eligible for parole until he has served at least 85 percent of the maximum sentence," he said.

DeLuca said he has continuously fought for this legislation to honor the memory of a Penn Hills police officer who was shot and killed. In December 2009 Officer Michael Crawshaw was allegedly murdered by a parolee who had previously been convicted of numerous drug, assault and weapons charges. The legislation is dubbed the "Crawshaw Bill."

"Had the parolee served out the majority of his previous sentence, he would still have been in prison on the day Officer Crawshaw was shot and killed," DeLuca said.

Only one-third of repeat violent offenders are incarcerated for more than their mandatory minimum sentence, according to DeLuca.

"I find it disturbing that the current system allows more than 75 percent of all repeat violent criminals to be released on parole," he said. "It is especially disturbing when you consider that the recidivism rate for repeat violent offenders is 54 percent."

Emphasizing the cost of inaction DeLuca stated, "We in the General Assembly need to consider both the financial and human costs to families associated with House Bill 645. Children are losing their fathers, husbands are losing their wives, and parents are losing their children all because the current system enables violent repeat offenders to be paroled after serving their minimum sentences.

"I see this legislation as a necessary measure to ensure that our constituents are protected from violent career criminals who either refuse to or are incapable of reforming themselves."

House Bill 645 will now be sent to the Senate for its consideration.

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