State of Pennsylvania secondary Archives: on Crime
Allyson Schwartz:
End the Pennsylvania death penalty
All four candidates support either a moratorium on or an end to the death penalty.
McCord, McGinty and Wolf agree a moratorium on the death penalty is in order while studying its value. Schwartz would sign legislation to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
Source: Washington Times on 2014 Pennsylvania governor race
May 17, 2014
Brendan Boyle:
Revitalize urban neighborhoods to keep them safe
It is essential that our neighborhoods and our communities remain strong and stable. I am proud to be endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police because of my legislative record in fighting for laws that protect our public and keep our neighborhoods safe.
For too many decades, Congress has ignored urban neighborhoods and older inner suburbs. We need a national strategy to re-invest in and revitalize those areas that need it. This must finally become a national priority.
Source: 2014 Pennsylvania House campaign website, VoteBoyle.com
Oct 10, 2014
David McCormick:
Will always back and support law enforcement officials
Crime and murder rates across American cities, including sanctuary cities like Philadelphia, are at record highs. Open border policies are flooding Pennsylvanian communities with illegal drugs like fentanyl and defund the police movements are leading to
more crime in our cities--crime that is creeping into the suburbs. Dave supports securing our border to stop drug trafficking and will always back and provide support for our dedicated law enforcement officials.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign web DaveMcCormickPA.com
May 22, 2022
Doug Mastriano:
Use $100 million in federal funds for law enforcement
Senators Doug Mastriano and Devlin Robinson announced a plan to introduce legislation that will use $100 million in federal funds to establish the "Law Enforcement Recovery Grant." "There is a growing bipartisan chorus to adequately fund our law
enforcement agencies in the aftermath of COVID-19", said Mastriano. "The law enforcement recovery grant will ensure that agencies across the commonwealth have the resources needed to properly serve their communities and save lives."
Source: Gettysburg Times on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
Mar 28, 2022
Dwight Evans:
End over-militarized approach to urban policing
The federal government plays a major role in determining the kind of policing cities have across the country. It has subsidized and promoted the over-militarized approach to urban policing that has resulted in the counter-productive events in Ferguson,
Baltimore and other cities in recent years. It is time, instead, that Congress support the kind of policing programs that both reduce crime and promote cities' quality of life and economic growth:- Expand HUD's "Cop Next Door" program, subsidizing
home purchases by officers in high-crime neighborhoods.
- Bring the Police to the people: expand our neighborhood policing efforts by creating more police satellite offices, especially in high-crime neighborhoods.
- Providing Real Time Data to Police:
instantly link police officers with footage from nearby security cameras, as it occurs--all using existing sources of public data, without the need for new surveillance.
- Launching a Safe Place Initiative.
- Establish City Gun Courts.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania House campaign website DwightEvans.com
Nov 8, 2016
Ed Rendell:
Fund education well, and we can cut incarceration costs
The cost of housing prisoners in Pennsylvania continues to rise. We must reverse this trend, if for no other reason than the failure to do so threatens to overwhelm our ability to meet skyrocketing prison costs. Increased funding for public education is
one great way to address this problem, because it provides an opportunity for our young people to choose the right path. But we must do more to reduce the rising costs of incarceration, & I welcome the opportunity to partner with you to achieve this goal
Source: Pennsylvania 2010 State of the State Address
Feb 9, 2010
Everett Stern:
Blue Lives Matter: Police officers aren't 2nd class citizens
Blue Lives Matter. Police Officers risk their lives everyday in service to the community and country. I will make sure as a U.S. Senator that Police Officers are not turned into 2nd class citizens.
We are all created equal and that includes the men and women wearing blue.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website, EverettStern.com
Oct 9, 2015
Everett Stern:
Calls to defund the police is open invitation for anarchy
Calls to "Defund The Police" are an open invitation for anarchy. Our police are overburdened with responsibilities that are not germane to their mission in society, such as, dealing with marital disputes and the mentally ill.
These situations are the domain of social workers. The core mission of the police is to protect citizens from criminals. Rather than "Defund The Police", we need to fund trained specialists. This will allow the police to focus on the job they are suppose
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website EverettStern.com
Jun 20, 2021
Ken Krawchuk:
Eliminate parole for violent criminals
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stricter punishment reduces crime"?
A: Support. I've pledged to eliminate parole for violent criminals.
Source: OnTheIssues interview: 2018 Pennsylvania Governor candidate
May 18, 2018
Jeff Bartos:
Keep moratorium on death penalty
The candidates disagreed on the death penalty, with Mr. Bartos saying a [gubernatorial candidate state Sen. Scott] Wagner administration would lift the current moratorium.
[Lt. Gov. candidate and Mayor of Braddock John] Fetterman responded by saying he would champion criminal justice reform as lieutenant governor.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on 2018 Pennsylvania Senate debate
Oct 6, 2021
Jeff Bartos:
Against "Defund the Police," police need to be fully funded
Jeff will oppose any radical attempts to 'Defund the Police.' Radical Democrats' attempts to Defund the Police are dangerous for our communities. Crime is soaring in our communities and national Democrats are actively turning their backs on our
women and men in uniform. Jeff believes our police departments and law enforcement officers need to be fully funded and have all of the tools necessary at their disposal to help keep our communities safe.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JeffBartos.com
Jul 19, 2021
Joe Gale:
Appalling to criticize insurrection but not other protests
[On Jan. 6 riot] "I have consistently been a voice for law and order and spoken out against protests that devolve into riots, violence, and destruction," said Gale. "For doing so, I've been smeared, censured, and physically targeted. Now politicians and
the media are suddenly outraged, after having spent the last year justifying, excusing, and often ignoring the unrest and lawlessness that destroyed nearly every major city in the nation. This double standard is purposeful and appalling."
Source: WHYY NPR 90.9 FM on 2022 Pennsylvania Gubernatorial race
Jan 7, 2021
John Fetterman:
Break the cycle of violence to decreases murders
During the last 10 years as mayor, John is most gratified by breaking the cycle of violence in
Braddock that culminated with 5 years without the taking of a life.
Source: 2016 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Sep 22, 2015
John Fetterman:
Overhauled clemency process, recommended more commutations
Chair of Pennsylvania's Board of Pardons, John has led the fight to give second chances to non-violent inmates and free those wrongfully convicted. He has taken steps to overhaul the clemency process, including eliminating all fees associated with
applying for a pardon, making the pardons application more user-friendly, and working to move the application process online. Under John's tenure, the Board has recommended more applicants for commutation than under any lieutenant governor in decades.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website JohnFetterman.com
Jan 21, 2021
John Fetterman:
Must expand redemption, forgiveness side of criminal justice
Says Fetterman, "Our country has mastered the punishment side of criminal justice. We must nurture and expand the redemption and the forgiveness part of that equation. If you're living your best life, and you've moved on
from a really bad choice you may have made when you were young, or 10-20 years ago, you should be afforded the opportunity to fully rejoin the franchise. And I want to change that conversation."
Source: NEXTPittsburgh.com on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jan 14, 2021
Katie McGinty:
Moratorium on the death penalty
All four candidates support either a moratorium on or an end to the death penalty.
McCord, McGinty and Wolf agree a moratorium on the death penalty is in order while studying its value. Schwartz would sign legislation to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
Source: Washington Times on 2014 Pennsylvania governor race
May 17, 2014
Lloyd Smucker:
Prosecute sexual deviants who email child images
House Bill 90 would permit local prosecutors to obtain limited identifying information about Internet Service Provider (ISP) subscribers whose computers are involved in the distribution of child pornography. This could result in the faster apprehension
of child sexual predators and lead to rescuing endangered children more quickly. The measure passed both chambers unanimously."If are you a child sex predator preying on our children via the Internet, we're coming after you," said
sponsor Saccone. "On any given day, nearly 3,000 sexual deviants in Pennsylvania electronically exchange the most vile images of child torture and exploitation imaginable. Each child in those pictures has been victimized and may be in continuous and immi
danger."
Saccone's bill would give law enforcement officials the same tools available to those at the federal level, to intercept predators before they have a chance to act.
Sen. Smucker voted YEA.
Source: Press release on Pennsylvania voting records: HB90
Oct 7, 2014
Madeleine Dean:
Prosecute sexual deviants who email child images
House Bill 90 would permit local prosecutors to obtain limited identifying information about Internet Service Provider (ISP) subscribers whose computers are involved in the distribution of child pornography. This could result in the faster apprehension
of child sexual predators and lead to rescuing endangered children more quickly. The measure passed both chambers unanimously."If are you a child sex predator preying on our children via the Internet, we're coming after you," said
sponsor Saccone. "On any given day, nearly 3,000 sexual deviants in Pennsylvania electronically exchange the most vile images of child torture and exploitation imaginable. Each child in those pictures has been victimized and may be in continuous and immi
danger."
Saccone's bill would give law enforcement officials the same tools available to those at the federal level, to intercept predators before they have a chance to act.
Rep. Dean voted YEA.
Source: Press release on Pennsylvania voting records: HB90
Oct 8, 2014
Malcolm Kenyatta:
Must address systemic issue of mass incarceration
Mass incarceration is a systemic issue that can no longer go unaddressed. The recidivism rates in Pennsylvania can be reversed with help from bills such as the "Fighting Chance Act," that
Representative Kenyatta and a colleague from across the aisle proposed.
Source: 2021 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website MalcolmForPA.com
Mar 4, 2021
Malcolm Kenyatta:
We really do need radical reform to policing
Kenyatta supports the need to completely reimagine public safety in America. "We really do need radical reform to policing and radical systems reform. We have to ask the question, what are the police protecting? What they're protecting are really
these systems of discrimination.""We can shift resources, which we should and we're doing. We can change policies, which we should and we're doing, but ultimately we have to shift our systems, and that is a harder task."
Source: LGBTQ Nation News on 2022 Pennsylvania Senate race
Jun 28, 2020
Rick Saccone:
Prosecute sexual deviants who email child images
House Bill 90 would permit local prosecutors to obtain limited identifying information about Internet Service Provider (ISP) subscribers whose computers are involved in the distribution of child pornography. This could result in the faster apprehension
of child sexual predators and lead to rescuing endangered children more quickly. The measure passed the chamber by a vote of 192-0."If are you a child sex predator preying on our children via the Internet, we're coming after you," said
Saccone. "On any given day, nearly 3,000 sexual deviants in Pennsylvania electronically exchange the most vile images of child torture and exploitation imaginable. Each child in those pictures has been victimized and may be in continuous and imminent
danger."
Saccone's bill would give Pennsylvania's law enforcement officials the same tools available to those at the federal level, to intercept predators before they have a chance to act and to bring those who have offended swiftly to justice.
Source: Press release on Pennsylvania voting records: HB90
Oct 10, 2014
Rick Saccone:
Arguments against death penalty are false
The bottom line remains the cost argument is a red herring to abolish the death penalty. Even if the expense of capital punishment was prohibitive, states could choose to reduce the number of capital cases pursued,
or increase the legal threshold of pursuit, without eliminating it thus reserving the option to pursue capital punishment in heinous cases.
Source: 2018 Pennsylvania Senatorial website RickSaccone.com
Oct 15, 2017
Sharif Street:
Allow life sentence convictions to be open to parole
Sharif's has written and introduced legislation to permit an individual sentenced to life imprisonment under the laws of this Commonwealth to be considered for parole after a reasonable amount of time. The bill creates no right to parole, so it will
not allow our most dangerous inmates to go free. The Commonwealth's Board of Probation and Parole will continue to responsibly reject requests for parole from those who do not deserve it or those who present too great a safety risk to the public.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website StreetForPA.com
Jun 27, 2022
Tom Corbett:
Cancel unneeded expensive prison project in Fayette County
This budget maintains our full complement of state police. Crime often costs us long after justice is done. In 1993 Pennsylvania had 24,000 men and women in its prisons. Today that number is over 50,000. This number speaks to a failure.
Sometimes it's a failure in our schools, or in our society, but ultimately in the personal character of the criminal. We need to fund additional parole officers to help freed inmates make the transition from the prison yard to Main Street.
Source: 2011 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania legislature
Mar 8, 2011
Tom Corbett:
Cancel unneeded expensive prison project in Fayette County
This budget maintains our full complement of state police. Crime often costs us long after justice is done. In 1993 Pennsylvania had 24,000 men and women in its prisons. Today that number is over 50,000. This number speaks to a failure.
Sometimes it's a failure in our schools, or in our society, but ultimately in the personal character of the criminal. We need to fund additional parole officers to help freed inmates make the transition from the prison yard to Main Street.
We need to think smarter about how and when and how long to jail people. We need to be tough on crime but we also need to consider the fiscal implications of our prison system. Last month my administration cancelled a prison project in Fayette
County because we don't need it and we can't afford it. We also can't afford to ask counties in our state to subsist on a prison-based economy. We need industries that generate wealth, not sorrow.
Source: 2011 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania legislature
Mar 8, 2011
Tom Corbett:
Justice Reinvestment: eligible offenders out of system
While prisons are necessary, they are not necessarily the only answer. Our Justice Reinvestment Initiative gets eligible offenders out of the system and works to re-introduce them as productive citizens. It also will save us $139 million. This money is
being moved to the "front end" of the justice system--victim services, local policing, county-based offender treatment, improved probation services. We need to be tough on crime and smarter about preventing it. Justice Reinvestment does both.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania Legislature
Feb 5, 2013
Tom Corbett:
290 new state troopers plus 90 new civilian dispatchers
One of the greatest challenges we continue to confront as Pennsylvanians is the threat of crime. Public safety remains a top priority in my administration. Without safety society cannot long endure.That is why, once again,
I have announced plans for new cadet classes at the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. Over the next fiscal year we plan to train 290 new state troopers to protect and defend our citizens and our rule of law.
We will also add 90 new civilian dispatchers, freeing our troopers to get out on the roads and into our communities, where they are most needed.
Much of that expansion has been made possible by enhancing our justice system. It costs $34,000 a year to keep a man or woman in prison. That is $34,000 that doesn't reach our schools, pave our roads, or care for our poor.
Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Pennsylvania Legislature
Feb 5, 2013
Tom Wolf:
Moratorium on the death penalty
All four Democratic candidates support either a moratorium on or an end to the death penalty.
McCord, McGinty and Wolf agree a moratorium on the death penalty is in order while studying its value. Schwartz would sign legislation to end the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
Source: The Patriot News on 2014 Pennsylvania governor debate
May 10, 2014
Tom Wolf:
Moratorium on death penalty; reprieves to death-row inmates
Wolf signed a series of executive orders for political appointees and state workers, banning gifts to state officials and requiring that all state contracts with private-sector providers go through a bidding process.
He declared a moratorium on the death penalty, granting temporary reprieves to 180 inmates on death row as a state task force formally reviews the policy.
Source: Vox.com on 2018 Pennsylvania gubernatorial race
May 16, 2018
Tom Wolf:
Make it easier for ex-cons to get jobs
We cannot comprehensively address our workforce development system without fixing our criminal justice system. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians are shut out of our workforce or underemployed because of mistakes they've made in their past.
Families are being denied providers. Employers are being denied skilled workers. We have to improve reentry programs and make it easier for those who have done their time to succeed in the workforce and their daily lives.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Pennsylvania legislature
Feb 5, 2019
Tony Knowles:
Abolish death penalty across the US
This past weekend Pennsylvania Abolitionists organized and participated in several actions at the National Governors Association meeting at Penn State University, July 7th - 10th. The activities met with heavy police surveillance and unnecessarily
violent force. Abolitionists received a different response from Alaska Governor Tony Knowles who crossed the street to thank the demonstrators for being present and to indicate his support for abolition of the death penalty in United States.
Source: Newsletter from the Pennsylvania Abolitionist
Jul 7, 2000
Val Arkoosh:
Train our police in de-escalation techniques
Val supports efforts to better train our police in de-escalation techniques, racial and implicit bias, and interacting with people in need of mental health care or substance use care, not jail time. We need to improve relationships between communities
and the police by increasing diversity among our police and building forces that know the communities they serve, and we need more mental health counselors attached to our police forces.
Source: 2022 Pennsylvania Senate campaign website ValArkoosh.com
Dec 19, 2021
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023