JAY-Z and Meek Mill‘s REFORM Alliance has taken on Pennsylvania’s punitive probation system once again — and won.
In a press release shared with HipHopDX, it was revealed that the criminal justice reform collective has worked alongside a bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocates to bring Senate Bill 838 before Gov. Josh Shapiro as of Thursday (December 14).
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The bill is, officially, “an Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in sentencing, further providing for order of probation, for conditions of probation and for modification or revocation of order of probation and providing for probation review conference,” per the Legislative notes on the matter.
To put it plainly, Senate Bill 838 will provide necessary reforms to Pennsylvania’s probation rules, making it easier for the formerly incarcerated to abide by them, and to prevent further recidivism.
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Shapiro — a rising political star who has spoken about probation reform in the state in the past — has reportedly promised to sign the bill into law once he sees it.
“It’s long past time to reform our system as a whole and put responsible limits on probation terms,” he reportedly said earlier this year, per the press release. “You’ve passed that bill before. And I hope you’ll do it again. Put it on my desk and I’ll sign it.”
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In a statement, Meek Mill expressed the bill’s personal significance to him saying: “My experience on probation reflected millions of other stories that go unheard. So when the world saw my case and the absurdity of sending people to prison for non-criminal technical violations, it sparked a movement. It’s an honor and a blessing to see this change come to my home state. I am deeply grateful to the lawmakers and advocates for their hard work over many years to get this done. Thank you, truly.”
Back in 2020, the organization scored its first legal victory in similar fashion in California, when Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1950 into action, limiting probation periods for criminals.
The legislation only allows adult probation sentences to reach a maximum of one year for misdemeanors and two years for those convicted of felonies in the state of California.
“I want to thank Governor Newsom for his leadership in signing AB 1950, the most transformative probation bill in this country to date,” JAY-Z said. “This is a first step that I hope introduces a wave of much-needed change throughout the country.”
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California signed multiple prison reform bills into action at that time, including a ban on chokeholds by police officers, allowing the attorney general to look into police shootings independently, and requiring the state to house transgender inmates based on their gender identity.
“Americans across the country took to the streets this summer rightfully demanding more and better of our criminal justice system–and of ourselves,” the governor stated. “Still, we can and must do more. Working with our youth, faith and community leaders, law enforcement, the legislature and countless others demanding change, my administration remains committed to the important work ahead to make our criminal and juvenile justice systems fairer and safer for all Californians.”
