With more than 1,900 individuals 55 years or older who have served at least 25 years sitting in Pennsylvania’s prisons, it is clear that the state’s current compassionate release program has failed.  In use for 13 years, only 31 individuals have successfully petitioned for medical release due to serious illness.  Since 2016, 8 have died waiting for a judge to hear their petition.  This broken process cannot be allowed to continue.  

 

To address this, our legislation would create a new medical parole process authorizing a court that imposes a sentence to modify a term of imprisonment in a number of cases.  Serious health issues, such as a chronic and debilitating physical or medical condition, and individuals 55 or older who have served 25 years in prison or one half of the minimum term imposed would be eligible for parole.  This release would be subject to criteria deemed appropriate by the Parole Board and would require notification to both the original sentencing court, the District Attorney, and the Office of the Victim Advocate. 

 

As legislators, we have a responsibility to promote rehabilitation and ensure all Pennsylvanians are receiving the care they need.  Please join us in co-sponsoring this important, commonsense legislation to support some of our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.