Criminal justice bills move forward from PA House Committee – North Penn Now

Legislative Committee Advances Justice System Reforms Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee has advanced several legislative proposals aimed at enhancing the fairness and inclusivity of the state’s justice system. The debates and subsequent votes on these measures reflect a commitment to key principles outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Promoting Veteran Well-being and Access to Justice (SDG 3, SDG 16)

Two bills focused on veterans within the criminal justice system were considered, addressing both mental health and economic reintegration.

House Bill 458: Post-Conviction Relief for Veterans

This proposal seeks to expand judicial considerations for veterans, directly supporting SDG 3 by recognizing the impact of mental health conditions and SDG 16.3 by ensuring more equitable access to justice.

• Objective: To allow veterans to submit a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a mitigating factor during post-conviction reviews.
• Rationale: The bill addresses a gap in the current law, which excludes veterans diagnosed while incarcerated or prior to 1980 when PTSD was formally recognized. Proponents argue this ensures justice accounts for the “invisible wounds of war” that may have contributed to an individual’s incarceration.
• Concerns: Opposition expressed concern that the bill’s language was too broad and could potentially cover other mental health disorders beyond its intent.
• Outcome: The bill passed on a 17-9 vote, advancing the goal of creating more responsive and inclusive judicial processes.

House Bill 866: Restoration of Veteran Benefits

The committee unanimously approved this measure, which supports the economic and social reintegration of veterans, aligning with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

• Mandate: Requires the Department of Corrections to provide briefings to incarcerated veterans about the potential restoration of their benefits upon release, facilitating a more stable transition back into society.

Addressing Juvenile Justice and Economic Disparity (SDG 1, SDG 10, SDG 16)

A significant proposal aimed to reform the financial penalties imposed on young offenders, targeting systemic issues that perpetuate inequality.

House Bill 1385: Elimination of Juvenile Fines and Fees

This bill directly confronts economic barriers within the justice system, a critical step toward achieving SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by ensuring a youth’s economic status does not determine their length of involvement with the justice system.

1. Core Proposal: To eliminate most court-imposed fines and fees for juvenile offenders, as recommended by the state’s 2021 Juvenile Justice Task Force.
2. Supporting Argument: Proponents highlighted that such costs disproportionately penalize low-income youth, who are often unable to secure employment to pay them, thereby prolonging their entanglement in the justice system and undermining the principle of equal justice under SDG 16.
3. Opposition Concerns: Critics argued that the bill could prioritize offenders over victims by removing a mechanism for financial restitution. Concerns were also raised over undefined terminology such as “actual victim.”
4. Outcome: The bill advanced on a narrow 14-12 party-line vote, indicating a continued debate on balancing rehabilitation with victim compensation.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article discusses House Bill 458, which focuses on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries. This directly relates to mental health and well-being, a key component of SDG 3.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The debate around House Bill 1385, which aims to eliminate fines and fees for juvenile offenders, addresses economic inequality within the justice system. The article notes that these costs keep “low-income young people in the justice system longer than their wealthier peers,” highlighting a disparity based on economic status.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The entire article is centered on legislative efforts to reform the criminal and juvenile justice systems to make them more fair and equitable. This includes ensuring access to justice for veterans with unrecognized trauma and creating a more just system for juvenile offenders, which aligns directly with the goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 3:
  • Target 3.4: “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.” The article’s focus on allowing PTSD and traumatic brain injury diagnoses to be considered in post-conviction reviews for veterans is a direct effort to promote mental health and well-being within the justice system. It acknowledges that “invisible wounds of war” can contribute to incarceration and that justice requires taking these health issues into account.
• Under SDG 10:
  • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices…” House Bill 1385 seeks to eliminate fines and fees for juvenile offenders, a policy that, according to the article, results in unequal outcomes based on economic status. By removing these financial burdens, the bill aims to create a more equitable justice system for young people regardless of their family’s income.
• Under SDG 16:
  • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” Both legislative proposals discussed are aimed at reforming laws to provide fairer treatment and better access to justice. House Bill 458 provides an opportunity for veterans diagnosed while incarcerated to have their full circumstances reviewed, while House Bill 1385 addresses systemic issues that prevent equal justice for low-income juveniles.
  • Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.” The legislative debate itself, as described in the article, is part of the process of developing more effective and accountable institutions. The bills aim to make the justice and corrections systems more responsive to the specific needs and circumstances of veterans and juveniles. House Bill 866, which requires briefings for veterans on benefit restoration, is another example of making institutions more accountable to the people they serve.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 3.4 (Promote mental health and well-being):
  • An implied indicator is the number of post-conviction reviews granted to veterans based on diagnoses of PTSD or traumatic brain injury. The article explains that the bill “simply gives the courts the opportunity to review the full picture,” so tracking how often this opportunity is utilized would measure the bill’s impact.
• For Target 10.3 (Reduce inequalities of outcome):
  • An implied indicator is the reduction in the length of time low-income juvenile offenders spend in the justice system compared to their wealthier peers. Since the article states that costs keep poorer youth in the system longer, measuring the change in this disparity would directly assess the bill’s effectiveness.
  • Another indicator is the total monetary value of fines and fees eliminated for juvenile offenders. This would provide a quantitative measure of the financial barrier being removed.
• For Target 16.3 (Ensure equal access to justice for all):
  • A direct indicator is the number of laws or policies passed and implemented to reform the justice system for specific vulnerable groups. The passage of House Bill 458 and House Bill 1385, as detailed in the article, would be a primary indicator of progress.
  • An implied indicator related to House Bill 866 is the proportion of eligible veterans who receive briefings on the restoration of their benefits upon release from the Department of Corrections. This would measure the implementation of policies designed to support reintegration and access to entitled benefits.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: northpennnow.com