HARRISBURG, March 18, 2025 – Six PA House Democrats from across the state held a news conference at the state Capitol announcing a package of 10 bills to reform the state’s juvenile justice system.
“A few years ago, a bipartisan juvenile justice task force issued several recommendations on how to improve outcomes for our kids and save money,” said state Rep. Dan Miller, D-Allegheny. “But legislative action has been slow to build off of this effort. Our package of bills highlights many of those recommendations and expands upon them to enhance justice, focus efforts, and, hopefully, reduce recidivism.”
“We know there are fundamental design problems with how Pennsylvania’s juvenile justice system is set up to handle children,” said state Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny. “These bills are targeted to address those specific issues. This package of legislation is all about creating a justice system that allows kids greater opportunities to escape the cycle of recidivism and lead fulfilling and impactful lives.”
The six state representatives behind the bills are Miller, Kinkead, Anthony Bellmon, D-Phila.; Rick Krajewski, D-Phila.; Chris Rabb, D-Phila; and Melissa Shusterman, D-Chester.
Key reforms proposed in the CARE Package include:
o Repealing the requirement to automatically charge some children as adults and prohibit charging children as adults.
o Expanding and standardizing juvenile diversion programs.
o Excluding most vulnerable youth from placement in juvenile detention facilities.
o Limiting use of solitary confinement for juveniles.
o Guaranteeing Miranda rights protections for minors.
o Protecting justice-involved youth’s right to an education.
o Protecting justice-involved youth’s right to an education.
o Limiting probation terms for juveniles and the use of delinquency versus dependency.
o Eliminating fines and limiting court fees imposed on juveniles.
o Expanding oversight and accountability of juvenile justice facilities.
o Ensuring juveniles receive credit for time served awaiting adjudication.
“Kids need to be invested in and supported, not punished and locked up,” said Stefanie Arbutina, Vulnerable Youth Policy director of Children First. “We all want community safety – not safety from children, but safety for children.”
In 2021, the state’s bipartisan Juvenile Justice Taskforce conducted a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of the state’s juvenile justice system and issued a report making 35 recommendations for changes to improve outcomes, stating the changes would reduce out-of-home placement by 39% and save taxpayers $80 million.
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