HR 63 — A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to study diversion programs and make recommendations for improving existing diversion programs and establishing new diversion programs.

PRINTER'S NO.   534

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 63
                                                 Session of
                                                   2025

     INTRODUCED BY KHAN, J.HARRIS, PIELLI, MADSEN, CARROLL, GREEN,
        GIRAL, HANBIDGE, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-EVANS,
        HOHENSTEIN AND KENYATTA, FEBRUARY 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 10, 2025


                                  A RESOLUTION
 1   Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study
 2      diversion programs and make recommendations for improving
 3      existing diversion programs and establishing new diversion
 4      programs.
 5      WHEREAS, Research has demonstrated that depending on punitive
 6   approaches in addressing criminal behavior does not effectively
 7   promote public safety; and
 8      WHEREAS, Racial and gender disparities continue to be
 9   prevalent in the criminal justice system as a disproportionate
10   number of Black individuals and other people of color are
11   incarcerated; and
12      WHEREAS, Furthermore, those involved with the criminal
13   justice system as a result of poverty-related crime, mental
14   health and substance use disorders are unjustly penalized rather
15   than provided with assistance; and
16      WHEREAS, In order to address these disparities and the
17   underlying cause of criminal behavior, prosecutors and police
18   are adopting diversion programs in communities across the
 1   nation; and
 2      WHEREAS, Diversion is an effective alternative method in
 3   promoting long-term community safety, diverting individuals from
 4   the criminal justice system and reducing recidivism; and
 5      WHEREAS, With a focus on rehabilitation and community-based
 6   treatment as opposed to punitive measures, individuals involved
 7   in the criminal justice system have the opportunity to receive
 8   proper support; and
 9      WHEREAS, Approaches to diversion include prepolice encounter
10   diversion, prearrest diversion, precharge diversion and pretrial
11   diversion; and
12      WHEREAS, Prepolice encounter diversion includes situations in
13   which police may encounter an emergency that does not require
14   law enforcement but necessitates crisis hotlines or civilian
15   responders to mitigate community problems; and
16      WHEREAS, Prearrest diversion programs reduce arrests and
17   placement in jails by providing law enforcement with the
18   discretion to divert individuals who have engaged in low-level
19   offenses; and
20      WHEREAS, Precharge diversion, which can be operated by
21   courts, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and community-
22   based organizations, may divert individuals prior to being
23   charged with a crime; and
24      WHEREAS, Pretrial diversion programs, such as problem-solving
25   courts, provide an individual charged with a crime the
26   opportunity to complete program requirements and may include
27   deferred adjudication through community service; and
28      WHEREAS, Diversion programs are vital in reforming our
29   criminal justice system and increasing public safety; therefore
30   be it

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 1      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
 2   State Government Commission to study diversion programs and make
 3   recommendations for improving existing diversion programs and
 4   establishing new diversion programs; and be it further
 5      RESOLVED, That the report shall include recommendations for
 6   improving existing diversion programs and establishing new
 7   programs that other states have successfully implemented or that
 8   are likely to be successful in this Commonwealth; and be it
 9   further
10      RESOLVED, That the report include an explanation of
11   facilitators of and barriers to existing diversion programs; and
12   be it further
13      RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
14   its findings to the House of Representatives within one year of
15   the adoption of this resolution.




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