HB 1671 — An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in commencement of proceedings, providing for restorative justice.

PRINTER'S NO.   2040

                       THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                           HOUSE BILL
                           No. 1671
                                                  Session of
                                                    2025

     INTRODUCED BY RABB, D. WILLIAMS, KRAJEWSKI, HILL-EVANS, SANCHEZ,
        RIVERA AND MAYES, JUNE 25, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 26, 2025


                                       AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
 2      Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, further
 3      providing for sentencing generally and providing for
 4      restorative justice.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.       Section 9721(a) of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
 9   § 9721.    Sentencing generally.
10      (a)    General rule.--In determining the sentence to be imposed
11   the court shall, except as provided in subsection (a.1),
12   consider and select one or more of the following alternatives,
13   and may impose them consecutively or concurrently:
14             * * *
15             (8)    Restorative justice.
16      * * *
17      Section 2.       Title 42 is amended by adding a section to read:
18   § 9726.1.       Restorative justice.
19      (a)    Restorative justice as exclusive sentence.--The court
 1   may sentence a defendant to undergo restorative justice
 2   exclusively if the court, after considering the nature and
 3   circumstances of the crime committed by the defendant and the
 4   history and character of the defendant, determines that
 5   restorative justice alone is appropriate.
 6      (b)   Restorative justice as additional sentence.--The court
 7   may sentence a defendant to undergo restorative justice in
 8   addition to another sentence, involving total or partial
 9   confinement or probation, if the court determines that
10   restorative justice is specially adapted to the deterrence of
11   the crime involved or the correction of the defendant.
12      (c)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
13   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
14   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
15      "Circle."    A versatile restorative practice that can be used:
16            (1)   proactively to develop relationships and build
17      community; or
18            (2)   reactively to respond to wrongdoing, conflicts and
19      problems.
20      "Conference."    A structured meeting among individuals who
21   have caused harm, individuals who have been harmed and the
22   family and friends of these individuals, in which they deal with
23   the consequences of a crime or wrongdoing and decide how best to
24   repair the harm.
25      "Facilitator."    An individual who is trained to facilitate a
26   restorative justice practice.
27      "Restorative justice."    A gathering, such as a conference or
28   circle, in which individuals who have caused harm, individuals
29   who have been harmed, community stakeholders and a facilitator
30   collectively gather to identify and repair the harm to the

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1   extent possible, address trauma, reduce the likelihood of
2   further harm and strengthen community ties by focusing on the
3   needs and obligations of all parties involved through a
4   participatory process.
5      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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