City of Philadelphia - File #: 150958

• File #: 150958
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 12/10/2015
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 12/10/2015
• Title: Authorizing the creation of a "Special Committee on Criminal Justice Reform," to conduct public hearings to explore the Philadelphia criminal justice system, convene a wide range of stakeholders within the criminal justice community, examine the impact of current policies, and recommend strategies for reform that are in the best interest of public safety and the public good.
• Sponsors: Council President Clarke, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember O'Neill

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/10/2015	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Moved to Be Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar - Rules Suspended	Pass
12/10/2015	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Authorizing the creation of a "Special Committee on Criminal Justice Reform," to conduct public hearings to explore the Philadelphia criminal justice system, convene a wide range of stakeholders within the criminal justice community, examine the impact of current policies, and recommend strategies for reform that are in the best interest of public safety and the public good.

Body
WHEREAS, A national conversation is taking place regarding the current state of criminal justice in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Expanding upon the existing work that is already being done in Philadelphia and across the nation, the Special Committee on Criminal Justice Reform will work to highlight important issues including: the unsustainable and rapid growth of the adult corrections population; the unique issues presented with respect to juveniles involved in the criminal justice system; the impact that current laws have on Philadelphia communities and the justice-involved population; and policy changes across the nation that have proven effective in reducing costs, recidivism, and corrections populations in other places; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia must be doing more to prevent citizens from entering the criminal justice system, ensure equitable and efficient treatment of those that do interact with law enforcement, and ensure returning citizens quickly become productive members of society upon their release; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Prison System has been at or over capacity for 15 years or more; and

WHEREAS, The average pre-sentencing wait time of six months for at least three-quarters of the 7,800 citizens currently incarcerated costs the taxpayers of Philadelphia an estimated $126 million annually; and

WHEREAS, Extensive and thoughtful work is already underway in Philadelphia that is aimed at permanently and significantly reducing the number of Philadelphians who experience incarceration and their rates of recidivism; and

WHEREAS, The Special ...