The Pennsylvania Senate has approved new legislation aimed at keeping certain criminal defendants in custody, precluding their release on recognizance or unsecured bail if they pose a threat to public safety. The bill, cosponsored by Senator Tracy Pennycuick (R-24), is designed specifically to address concerns surrounding repeat violent felons, high-level fentanyl traffickers, and those who endanger law enforcement.
Senate Bill 490 focuses on ensuring that high-risk offenders remain imprisoned. “Tragically, there are too many stories of innocent people getting hurt or killed by repeat offenders or individuals involved in serious criminal activity making bail and committing more crimes. This cycle has to stop,” said Senator Pennycuick. “Ensuring these bad actors stay behind bars and don’t jump bail and don’t pose a further threat to society is imperative to protecting the public.”
The bill has passed the Senate and is now set to go before the state House of Representatives for further consideration.
