Javert thought he could correct his family’s wrongs, but did he over-correct and forget about empathy and compassion? Is society on the same path around people with criminal histories?
Read More‘Les Miserables’ is Playing Out in Today’s World
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Download the PARSOL Annual 2023: Rational Reform
Download the 2023 PARSOL Annual Report and Magazine
Read MorePARSOL Annual Dinner
PARSOL held its annual meeting on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at the KOP Tap Room in King of Prussia, Pa. where co-founding executive director Theresa Robertson, Ph.D., LPC was honored with the Founders Award. Also recognized were co-founders Stew Steckley and Carol Salacka, Psy.D. Brenda Jones, Executive Director of NARSOL presented Theresa with the NARSOL Lifetime Achievement Award at the…
Read MoreRESCINDED: No Job for You!
When hiring employees, companies often strive to build a workforce that reflects their values, promotes diversity, and supports community integration. One often-overlooked demographic in the hiring process is re-entering citizens, particularly those with a history of sex offenses. While this may raise concerns for some, it’s essential to consider the merits of providing second chances to individuals who have served…
Read MorePA House Hearing Experts: Residency Restrictions Don’t Work
Back in March, we asked PARSOL Advocates supporters to take action and write to the House Judiciary Committee chairman about HB77. Today, the Committee held a public hearing on the merits of residency restrictions for some people forced to register under Pennsylvania’s ‘Megan’s Law’ (SORNA). The emails worked. Rather than not hold a hearing (our original ask), Chairman Timothy Briggs…
Read MoreReflections from NARSOL 2023
I was able to attend the 15th annual national conference of NARSOL June 22-25 in Houston. It was last minute and I hesitated because I haven’t flown in about 25 years. But, I put that aside because PARSOL asked and I wanted to represent them and network with others in order to better serve registrants. The speakers were a wealth…
Read MoreBOOK REVIEW: Unfair: The New Science Of Criminal Injustice
Unfair: The New Science Of Criminal Injustice by Adam Benforado is a book about our broken system of criminal justice and the surprising reasons why. The author, an associate professor of law at Drexel University, is a graduate of both Yale College and Harvard Law School. This book is about the many problems in U.S. justice system and does not…
Read MorePARSOL’s Public Comment to the United States Sentencing Commission
During her confirmation hearings, now Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and former vice-chair of the USSC commission said, reflecting the Commission’s stance on sexual offenses and sentencing: The statute doesn’t say, “Look only at the guidelines and stop.”The statute doesn’t say, “Impose the highest possible penalty for this sickening and egregious crime.”The statute says, “Calculate the guidelines, but also…
Read MoreAre the Courts the New Galileo?
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court (SCOPA) heard oral arguments in Commonwealth v. Torsilieri on May 23, 2023. I don’t think the arguments were all too exciting. However, several interesting issues were made such as at what recidivism rate the General Assembly considers to be “high risk”, whether the irrebuttable presumption test is useful anymore, whether “not universally true” an accurate benchmark…
Read MorePA Superior Court Decides Com. v. John Aumick, 2023 PA Super 103 (Aumick II)
In an article I published on July 13, 2022, I promised I would update you on the Superior Court Com. v. John Aumick, 2022 PA Super. 33 (Aumick I) . I also wrote, “[n]ormally I don’t write articles on Superior Court cases for two reasons: 1) an application for en banc (full court) reargument can be filed whereas, if granted,…
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