Many states are beginning to pass common-sense laws that reform the criminal justice system and help get people out of jail and back into their communities. At the inauguration on January 15th, new Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf stated the changes he wanted to see over the next four years and his hope for a justice system that does not treat the poor unfairly. Surprisingly, lawmakers in Pennsylvania from both parties are coming together in attempts to produce this change. Jordan Harris, Democratic Representative, and Sheryl Delozier, Republican Representative, joined forces to form the “Criminal Justice Reform Caucus.” This caucus will examine problems such as job licenses, inability to pursue employment, availability of educational programs during imprisonment, probation and parole and other complications that may hinder people’s ability to enter society successfully after a criminal conviction.
This past year has been a time of instrumental change for criminal justice reform, with movements such as the Clean Slate bill, which allows non-violent criminals to have their records sealed after a predetermined amount of time. Delozier was a strong supporter of the Clean Slate bill and believes that our justice system should not be primarily punitive but should strive to make released offenders into productive members of their communities.
The need for improvement in our justice system and the desire for a strong group of lawmakers with a primary goal of reform and community change was apparent last week, when 32 members of the House had already joined the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus.