OUR WORK

P

LEGISLATION

By working with local legislators both in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia the Dignity Act Now Collective has crafted three pieces of policy:

  • ombudsmen HB999,
  • Formerly Incarcerated Mentorship Program HB 1002,
  • Trauma Informed Care HB 1014.

The legislation in the package would:

Introduce ombudsmen and offer reentry mentoring program
Bills sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Fielder, D-Phila., who said, “Establishing an ombudsmen program will help protect people in prison from biased treatment when they file complaints. Meanwhile, creating a mentoring program will allow incarcerated people to learn from peers who have already successfully transitioned back home, which helps lower recidivism and keeps our communities together.”

Require state prisons to provide free feminine hygiene items to all female inmates.
Bill sponsored by Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald, D-Phila., who said, “While the Department of Corrections recently changed its policy internally to provide these products, my legislation would make this change in Pennsylvania law so that future administrations could not easily repeal it.”

Provide alternative sentencing for pregnant women.
Bill sponsored by Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny, who said, “Alternative sentencing keeps pregnant women out of prison and connects them with vital resources like vocational and educational services, job training and placement education, affordable and safe housing assistance, parenting classes, and family case management services.

Require trauma-informed care.
Bill also sponsored by Lee, who said, “Many women have experienced trauma prior to prison and while in prison. If we do not heal our trauma-impacted community members, particularly women, we will continue to see the devastating impact on our children as they are without mothers, and on our women as they get funneled into the prison industrial complex without care.”

“Many women have experienced trauma prior to prison and while in prison. If we do not heal our trauma-impacted community members, particularly women, we will continue to see the devastating impact on our children as they are without mothers, and on our women as they get funneled into the prison industrial complex without care.”

Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny