PRINTER'S NO. 504 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RESOLUTION No.59 Session of 2025 INTRODUCED BY KAZEEM, VITALI, SANCHEZ, RIVERA, GIRAL, HILL- EVANS, KHAN, DALEY, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND GREEN, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 A RESOLUTION Designating November 1, 2025, as "State Correctional Institution Day" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, In prisons across the nation, many incarcerated individuals are held in violent, dangerous and unhealthy conditions; and WHEREAS, Legislators determine the laws that govern incarcerated individuals and the criminal justice system as they vote on legislation regarding the criminal statutes, parole and sentencing; and WHEREAS, However, legislators are not required to visit prisons, preventing them from having a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system; and WHEREAS, It is essential that legislators examine the conditions under which incarcerated individuals live and understand how State funding is appropriated to prisons; and WHEREAS, Those in support of this challenge assert that visiting prisons will provide legislators with a better 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 understanding of incarceration while raising accountability regarding the treatment of incarcerated individuals in prison; and WHEREAS, It is vital that legislators listen and speak with incarcerated individuals as they are responsible for representing the needs of the incarcerated population; and WHEREAS, Members of the House of Representatives are encouraged to visit a State correctional institution unannounced at a minimum of two times per year; therefore be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate November 1, 2025, as "State Correctional Institution Day" in Pennsylvania to raise awareness of the need to monitor and continue to improve conditions in our prisons to ensure that all people are treated humanely and supported in their rehabilitation. 20250HR0059PN0504 - 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15