State of Pennsylvania Archives: on Crime

Arlen Specter: Toughen sentences for career criminals

Brendan Boyle: More prisons; less parole

Boyle indicates support of the following principles regarding crime.
• Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance when released.
• End parole for repeat violent offenders.
• Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
• Minors accused of a violent crime should be prosecuted as adults.

Ed Rendell: Supports the death penalty

Indicate which principles you support regarding crime.
• Support the death penalty in Pennsylvania.
• Require that crimes based on race, ethnic background, religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation be prosecuted as hate crimes.
• Strengthen sex-offender laws.
• Rendell adds, "I have fought to reduce domestic violence and protect domestic violence victims, and I strengthened Megan's Law and improved Pennyslvania's Amber Alert system."

Ed Rendell: End parole for repeat violent offenders

Indicate which principles you support regarding crime.
• Support programs to provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills.
• End parole for repeat violent offenders.
• Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
• Increase state funding for community centers and other social agencies in areas with at-risk youth.
• Increase state funding for state and local emergency agencies to prevent or respond to terrorism.

Everett Stern: Focus on rehabilitation and prevention

A: Oppose. The Federal Government should focus on rehabilitation and prevention through kids programs and education.

Josh Shapiro: Helped create statewide Police Misconduct Database

Tom Ridge: More prisons; more death penalty

Supports the following principles concerning crime:
• Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
• Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
• Expand the use of the death penalty for additional circumstances relating to murder.
• Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.

Tom Ridge: Stricter penalties; less parole

Supports the following principles concerning crime:
• End parole for repeat violent felons.
• Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
• Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
• Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
• Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
• Lower the limit defining drunk driving to .08 blood alcohol content.

Bethany Hall-Long: Cruelty to animals includes extended tethering of dogs

Analysis by the News Journal, August 6, 2012: The law now adds tethering a dog for 18 or more hours in any 24-hour period to the list of cruel acts. Tethering young dogs and certain nursing mother dogs is also illegal.

Humane PA in support (2017): Why is tethering dogs inhumane? Dogs are naturally social animals who thrive on interaction with people and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 32-8-1 on Jun/26/12; passed Senate 16-5-0 on Jun/27/12; State Sen. Bethany Hall-Long voted YES; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Aug/3/12

Colin Bonini: Don't include tethering of dogs as cruelty to animals

Analysis by the News Journal, August 6, 2012: The law now adds tethering a dog for 18 or more hours in any 24-hour period to the list of cruel acts. Tethering young dogs and certain nursing mother dogs is also illegal.

Humane PA in support (2017): Why is tethering dogs inhumane? Dogs are naturally social animals who thrive on interaction with people and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 32-8-1 on Jun/26/12; passed Senate 16-5-0 on Jun/27/12; State Sen. Colin Bonini voted NO; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Aug/3/12

Jack Markell: Cruelty to animals includes extended tethering of dogs

Analysis by the News Journal, August 6, 2012: The law now adds tethering a dog for 18 or more hours in any 24-hour period to the list of cruel acts. Tethering young dogs and certain nursing mother dogs is also illegal.

Humane PA in support (2017): Why is tethering dogs inhumane? Dogs are naturally social animals who thrive on interaction with people and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 32-8-1 on Jun/26/12; passed Senate 16-5-0 on Jun/27/12; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Aug/3/12

Mike Katz: Cruelty to animals includes extended tethering of dogs

Analysis by the News Journal, August 6, 2012: The law now adds tethering a dog for 18 or more hours in any 24-hour period to the list of cruel acts. Tethering young dogs and certain nursing mother dogs is also illegal.

Humane PA in support (2017): Why is tethering dogs inhumane? Dogs are naturally social animals who thrive on interaction with people and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 32-8-1 on Jun/26/12; passed Senate 16-5-0 on Jun/27/12; State Sen. Michael Katz voted YES; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Aug/3/12

Mike Ramone: Cruelty to animals includes extended tethering of dogs

Analysis by the News Journal, August 6, 2012: The law now adds tethering a dog for 18 or more hours in any 24-hour period to the list of cruel acts. Tethering young dogs and certain nursing mother dogs is also illegal.

Humane PA in support (2017): Why is tethering dogs inhumane? Dogs are naturally social animals who thrive on interaction with people and other animals. A dog kept chained in one spot for hours, days, months or even years suffers immense psychological damage. An otherwise friendly and docile dog, when kept continuously chained, becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious and often aggressive.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 32-8-1 on Jun/26/12; passed Senate 16-5-0 on Jun/27/12; State Rep. Ramone voted YES; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Aug/3/12