Senate Committees to Hold Joint Hearing on Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Issues

(HARRISBURG) – A series of joint hearings will be held next week in the Senate to examine and develop legislative proposals for addressing law enforcement and criminal justice accountability reforms, Senate Judiciary Chairman Lisa Baker (R-20) and Law and Justice Chairman Pat Stefano (R-32) announced today.

“Pennsylvania desperately needs constructive conversation about finding a balance in police and community relations and taking effective steps to deal with biases seen in the law, procedure, and attitudes that perpetuate the corrosive racial divide that diminishes the value and scope of freedom for everyone,” Senator Baker said. “This would include evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of recent laws to determine where revision or improvement is required.  It also means a thorough review of the potential reforms being proposed.”

“We do not want to simply run legislation so we can pat ourselves on the back nor do we want to stick our head in the sand,” Senator Stefano said. “Rather we want to engage in a thoughtful process. That means gathering information by bringing all sides together. It’s an emotional and personal issue. We need to gather the evidence to take us from a thoughtful process to thoughtful legislation.”

The hearings will include evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of laws to determine where revision or improvement is required.  It also means a thorough review of the potential reforms being proposed. Testifiers will include representatives from a wide range of parties such as the black and brown communities, law enforcement and judicial interests.

More information will be available later this week.

Contact:               Jen Wilson – jwilson@pasen.gov

                                Mark Fetzko – mfetzko@pasen.gov

Back to Top