PHILADELPHIA, PA − July 23, 2026 – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court made clear in Commonwealth v. Lee that our current mandatory sentencing scheme for second-degree murder is unconstitutional because it fails to account for individual culpability. The Court provided the General Assembly with a limited window to enact a constitutional framework, and that deadline is now upon us.
Our responsibility is straightforward: protect public safety, uphold the will of the people, and ensure justice is administered fairly. Those goals are not mutually exclusive. We owe it to victims, their families, communities across Pennsylvania, and everyone impacted by our criminal justice system to provide clarity rather than uncertainty.
Failing to act would leave sentencing decisions to be resolved county by county through the courts, creating inconsistent outcomes and prolonged uncertainty for victims, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and individuals whose sentences are affected. These resentencings will take years to process and will leave far too many incarcerated individuals impacted by this ruling behind. The General Assembly should not abdicate its responsibility when the Court has clearly identified the need for legislative action.
More than 1,100 people are currently serving life sentences for felony murder in Pennsylvania. Nearly half are over 50 years old, many having served decades in prison. The rigid sentencing structure denies any consideration of rehabilitation, change, or individual circumstances. It disproportionately impacts communities of color and contributes to excessive incarceration without improving public safety.
Senate Bill 387 provides the framework that would allow parole eligibility after 25 years, giving the justice system discretion to assess cases individually. This approach aligns Pennsylvania with the majority of states, reflects broad public support—79% of Pennsylvanians favor judicial discretion in these cases—and ensures sentencing policies uphold both justice and the opportunity for redemption.
The people of Pennsylvania expect us to govern. That means meeting this constitutional moment with thoughtful, bipartisan action rather than allowing uncertainty to define our justice system.
I call on my colleagues to reconvene to pass SB387, a bipartisan measure that can pass both legislative chambers, and that truly delivers justice.
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