PRINTER'S NO. 1900
No. 136 Session of 1990
INTRODUCED BY SHUMAKER, HOPPER, SALVATORE, CORMAN, JUBELIRER, WENGER, BRIGHTBILL, REIBMAN, HELFRICK, PECORA, BELL, O'PAKE, SHAFFER, PORTERFIELD, AFFLERBACH, GREENWOOD, FISHER, MADIGAN, ARMSTRONG, RHOADES, HESS, LEMMOND, ROCKS AND WILT, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 6, 1990
A RESOLUTION 1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to undertake a 2 study of the State Correctional Institution system and to 3 determine the feasibility of patterning such institutions in 4 a manner similar to the Federal Prison System. 5 WHEREAS, Our system of State Correctional Institutions should 6 be structured in such a manner that all existing institutions 7 are utilized in the most efficient and effective manner; and 8 WHEREAS, Future construction and expansion of State 9 Correctional Institutions should be undertaken in accordance 10 with a master plan; and 11 WHEREAS, The Federal Prison System has a number of different 12 classifications of facilities, the characteristics of which vary 13 in accordance with the degree of security required for and the 14 special needs of persons incarcerated therein; and 15 WHEREAS, For both the sovereign and the prisoners, the 16 Federal Prison System appears to operate more efficiently and 17 effectively than the Pennsylvania system in that, pursuant to
1 specific guidelines and criteria, prisoners are assigned to 2 institutions providing no more or no less security or other 3 services than are necessary; therefore be it 4 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission be 5 directed to study the various problems involved in patterning 6 our State Correctional Institution System in a manner similar to 7 the Federal Prison System; and be it further 8 RESOLVED, That, to accomplish the goal of a more efficient 9 and effective State Correctional Institution System, the Joint 10 State Government Commission shall create a bipartisan task 11 force; and be it further 12 RESOLVED, That the task force may hold hearings, take 13 testimony and make its investigations at such places as it deems 14 necessary throughout this Commonwealth. Each member of the task 15 force shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations to 16 witnesses appearing before it; and be it further 17 RESOLVED, That the task force report its findings and 18 recommendations, together with drafts of legislation recommended 19 by it, to the General Assembly as soon as possible. A12L82CHF/19900S0136R1900 - 2 -