In re: Pet of PA Prison Society ( 2020 )

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
MIDDLE DISTRICT
IN RE: THE PETITION OF THE : No. 70 MM 2020
PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY, :
BRIAN MCHALE, JEREMY HUNSICKER, :
CHRISTOPHER AUBRY, MICHAEL :
FOUNDOS, AND FREDERICK LEONARD, :
ON BEHALF OF ALL SIMILARLY :
SITUATED INDIVIDUALS, :
:
Petitioners :
CONCURRING STATEMENT
CHIEF JUSTICE SAYLOR FILED: April 3, 2020
I join the present Order, since it does not sanction actual releases, but rather,
merely requires the identification of qualifying prisoners for potential release. In my view,
the primary authority to release qualifying prisoners on account of a disaster emergency
rests with the Governor -- who is invested with the power to direct and compel necessary
evacuations and control the movements of persons within disaster areas, see 35 Pa.C.S.
§7301 -- and/or the General Assembly.
Perhaps some releases may be effectuated by the judiciary under existing
statutory provisions already sanctioned by the Legislature, such as via the probation and
parole authority available under the Sentencing Code. See, e.g., 42 Pa.C.S. §9776.
Otherwise, I believe the Governor should fashion an appropriate Executive Order --
and/or the General Assembly should enact appropriate legislation -- to secure those
releases deemed to be necessary by the Health Department and which are consonant
with the preservation of public safety and other relevant factors, such as those delineated
in the Court’s present Order.
Justices Todd, Dougherty, and Mundy join this concurring statement.
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