PA HR165

Joint State Government Commission directed to conduct a study and issue a report on pretrial detention practices and pretrial detainee populations within 12 months of resolution adoption

Study must describe county-level pretrial practices including population records, dedicated pretrial offices, judicial review mechanisms, and formal arrestee interviews prior to preliminary arraignments

Study must analyze pretrial populations in county jails by size, probation detainees, those held on unmet cash bail, those held on remand, misdemeanor detainees, and demographics including sex, age, and race

Commission required to consult with state agencies, county governments, and nongovernmental organizations with justice system expertise including academic centers and nonprofits

Report must identify gaps in publicly available records and make recommendations for improving pretrial detention practices, information collection, and record accessibility