June 30, 2015
The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed a bill this weekend that would require inmates to pay restitution to their victims.
The state ordered defendants to pay more than $434 million in restitution from 2010 through November 2012. However, victims ended up with only about $50 million, a collection rate of 11.52 percent statewide, according to a release from the state's House of Representatives.
“Unfortunately, while inmates are spending millions of dollars at the prison commissary, victims remain unpaid,” the bill's sponsor, Rep. Todd Stephens, said in a statement.
House Bill 2386 would require 25 percent of inmates’ wages and 75 percent of the money deposited into their accounts from outside sources to be dedicated to paying back their victims.
“Very simply, if someone steals your TV, they should not be able to buy themselves a TV in prison before paying you for the TV they stole," Stephens said. "This bill puts victims of crime ahead of the criminals."
Under current law, such deductions are authorized, but not required.
Ex-offender Wayne Jacobs is against the bill.
“Leave the gift money alone, because the gift money is also sent from people who are also living in poverty to care for their loved one,” Jacobs told MyFoxPhilly.
The bill is part of a five-bill package aimed at strengthening the restitution collection rates in Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system.
