City of Philadelphia - File #: 121017

• File #: 121017
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 12/6/2012
• In control: Committee on Public Safety
• Title: Authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold public hearings reviewing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and its benefits to the criminal justice system, including the provision of adequate supervision of the offender while protecting the citizens of Philadelphia.
• Sponsors: Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Goode, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Oh, Council President Clarke, Council President Clarke, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember O'Neill

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
4/12/2013	0	Committee on Public Safety	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/12/2013	0	Committee on Public Safety	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/12/2013	0	Committee on Public Safety	HEARING HELD
4/12/2013	0	Committee on Public Safety	HEARING HELD
4/12/2013	0	Committee on Public Safety	RECESSED
4/12/2013	0	Committee on Public Safety	RECESSED
12/6/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
12/6/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
12/6/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED & REFERRED
12/6/2012	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED & REFERRED

Title
Authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold public hearings reviewing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and its benefits to the criminal justice system, including the provision of adequate supervision of the offender while protecting the citizens of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, The defined mission of the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (the Board) is to protect the safety of the public, address the needs of crime victims, improve county adult probation and parole services and assist in the fair administration of justice by ensuring the custody, control, and treatment of offenders under the jurisdiction of the Board; and

WHEREAS, The Board has the legal responsibility to parole, recommit for violations of parole, and discharge from parole offenders sentenced to two years or more. The Board also supervises offenders placed on special probation or special parole as requested by the Court of Common Pleas; and

WHEREAS, Parole is the release of an inmate from prison prior to his or her sentence's maximum date, but after the minimum sentence date, to continue serving the balance of the sentence under supervision in the community. Parole is a conditional release that requires parolees to abide by rules that do not apply to other members of society. In Pennsylvania, parole is a privilege, not a right; it is not automatic or guaranteed; and

WHEREAS, Probation is served in the community rather than jail. The conditions and violations regarding an offender's probation is left to the discretion of a sentencing judge; and

WHEREAS, The Board's goal to protect the safety of the public is accomplished through effective parole decisions and proper supervision and management of offenders who are returning to their communities. Successful reentry of an offender can reduce the likelihood that offenders will victimize anyone else and ultimately return to prison; and

WHEREAS, According to the B...