Pennsylvania Lawmakers Have Until Friday to Address Second-Degree Murder Convictions
Lawmakers are weighing retroactive relief for more than 1,100 inmates as Senate and House proposals split over parole eligibility and resentencing.
- With just two days until a critical deadline, Pennsylvania lawmakers face pressure to establish a new sentencing framework for second-degree murder after the state Supreme Court struck down mandatory life-without-parole sentences as unconstitutional.
- In March, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life without parole for second-degree murder is 'unnecessarily cruel' under state constitution, affecting more than 1,100 inmates currently serving such sentences.
- State Sen. Lisa Baker advocates a 35-year mandatory minimum with parole board review, while House members prefer shorter eligibility timelines of 20 years for adults and 15 for minors to account for culpability differences.
- Should lawmakers miss the deadline, the Supreme Court's ruling takes effect and resentencing petitions shift to local courts. Penn State University professor Shaakirrah Sanders expressed confidence courts can manage the caseload.
- Melody Kocis Bartusek, whose brother was killed, opposes a 'get out of jail free card' for offenders, while Nancy Leichter argues people who never intended to kill should not 'die in prison' for unintended deaths.
24 Articles
24 Articles
What happens when the clock runs out on felony murder legislation?
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices ruled in April that mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder were unconstitutional, triggering what might be the largest resentencing effort in commonwealth history.
Deadline Hits For Decision on 2nd Degree Murder Sentencing - ButlerRadio.com - Butler, PA
The state attorney general is sounding the alarm as today marks the deadline to set sentencing parameters for those convicted of second-degree murder. Earlier this year the state Supreme Court ruled mandatory life sentences as unconstitutional for those convicted of second-degree murder. Attorney General Dave Sunday says this could complicate sentences that have already happened, along with future sentencing. The Speaker of the House said …
Pennsylvania Capital-Star
The Indiana Gazette OnlineAllegheny County DA asks court for more time on legislative fix to felony murder sentencing
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in March that the mandatory life sentence for second-degree murder was unconstitutional, giving lawmakers 120 days to act. (Photo by Peter Hall/Capital-Star)As state lawmakers appeared poised to miss a deadline set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala filed a petition seeking a 120-day extension, giving them more time to create sentencing guidelines for second…
The Herald
No agreement reached in Pa. Legislature for new second-degree murder sentence, parole terms
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania lawmakers failed to compromise on the terms of a new sentencing and parole framework for second-degree murder, all but assuring the Legislature will miss a court-ordered deadline of Friday to act before expected appeals seeking release are…
Tioga Publishing
Allegheny district attorney asks Supreme Court for more time on murder law reform
(The Center Square) - On a day of intense political finger-pointing in Harrisburg, the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office Thursday asked the state Supreme Court to extend its stay on the application of a ruling concerning sentences for second-degree murder.
Legislative fix won't happen soon for Pennsylvania high court's nixing of 2nd-degree murder sentence
Holding six pages detailing 19 Lancaster County second-degree murder cases, county District Attorney Heather Adams urged state lawmakers Wednesday to address a March court ruling that makes mandatory life-without-parole sentences in such cases unconstitutional.
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