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.
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