Pennsylvania SB 1259: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole, further providing for investigation of circumstances of offense and for parole procedure.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1561 PRINTER'S NO. 1626
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 1259
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY CAPPELLETTI, BAKER, SCHWANK, SAVAL, KANE, COSTA,
KIM AND VOGEL, APRIL 1, 2026
SENATOR BAKER, JUDICIARY, AS AMENDED, APRIL 21, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in Pennsylvania Board of Probation and
Parole, further providing for investigation of circumstances
of offense and for parole procedure.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6135 of Title 61 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subsection to read:
§ 6135. Investigation of circumstances of offense.
* * *
(c) Confidentiality of parole review materials.--Except as
provided under section 6139(a)(5) (relating to parole
procedure), RECORDS OF THE BOARD'S PAROLE DECISION-MAKING
PROCESS AND records or information furnished to the board by a
public official or public employee under subsection (b):
(1) Shall be deemed confidential and privileged.
(2) Shall not be subject to subpoena or discovery.
(3) Shall not be introduced into evidence in a judicial
or administrative proceeding.
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(4) Shall not be released to the offender.
Section 2. Section 6139(a)(5) of Title 61 is amended to
read:
§ 6139. Parole procedure.
(a) Specific requirements.--
* * *
(5) [Whenever an offender is paroled by the board, or
whenever parole is refused by the board, a brief statement of
the reasons for the board's action shall be filed of record
in the offices of the board and shall be at all reasonable
times open to public inspection.] The board shall comply with
the following relating to decisions of the board:
(i) If an incarcerated person is paroled by the
board, the board shall provide a brief statement of the
reasons for the board's approval and set conditions and
requirements of parole.
(ii) If an incarcerated person is denied parole, the
board shall provide a brief statement of the reasons for
the board's refusal.
(iii) If the board denies parole and sets a
subsequent review date, the board shall provide to the
incarcerated person areas of emphasis that will be
considered for purposes of making the board's future
paroling decision, including recommended programming ,
behavior standards and compliance standards.
(iv) A board decision shall be recorded and filed in
the offices of the board.
(v) The decision shall be given to the incarcerated
person and at reasonable times be releasable to the
public.
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* * *
Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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