Pennsylvania’s Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act (HB 1042)

Preventing Crime and Promoting Workforce Engagement

Preparing people in prison to reenter the workforce successfully is one of the most effective strategies to break the cycle of crime, equip individuals with the tools they need to succeed and make communities safer. Most states use research-backed earned credit systems to incentivize people in prison to participate in rehabilitative programming to prepare for safe release. Pennsylvania does not yet have one.

HB 1042 is an Anti-Crime Bill 

Pennsylvania’s Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act will increase public safety and workforce engagement by:

1. Establishing an earned credit system to incentivize recidivism reduction activities, such as vocational and educational programs, by allowing eligible participants to earn earlier parole consideration
2. Removing barriers to entering the workforce after release from prison by reducing the waiting period for professional licensure eligibility

HB 1042 Will Improve Public Safety

Research shows that educational and vocational programming reduces recidivism and increases post-release employment. For example, people who participate in correctional education and training programs have 43% lower odds of recidivating than those who did not, and 13% higher chances of getting a job after incarceration. Participants in vocational training are 28% more likely to be employed after release.

HB 1042 will use public resources more efficiently

Not only does incentivizing participation in vocational and educational programs increase safety, it also improves public spending efficiency: Every $1 invested in education and vocational programs saves $4 to $5 in the three years post-release.

HB 1042 will address barriers to post-release employment

For people who are trained and ready to work but face waiting periods before licensing eligibility after release because of a criminal record, credits will count against the waiting period to facilitate their entry into the workforce. This will ensure that trained and eligible people can get to work sooner, allowing them to provide for their families and reducing the likelihood that they will return to prison in the future.

HB 1042 will reflect widespread public safety best practices

The vast majority of states use earned credits as a key public safety tool and states that have recently expanded their earned credit system have demonstrated improvements to public safety. In Pennsylvania, however, people in prison do not have access to earned credits.