Probation, Parole, & Alternative Sentencing

Probation, Parole, & Alternative Sentencing

Attorneys represent clients at county and state detainer hearings and at county and state parole or probation violation hearings before judges and before the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole.

The Alternative Sentencing unit represents clients vertically through our pre-trial diversionary programs to post trial, early parole to unique re-entry programs. We continue to work with our clients once paroled to alleviate any social service or legal challenges throughout the duration of their sentence.

Through collaboration with criminal justice stakeholders, the unit creates, improves, and expands diversionary programs as alternatives to mass incarceration, while make ensuring that our clients’ interests are represented in those meetings and reflected in the policies of those programs.

Our attorneys and our legal assistants visit the clients in custody, attend their court hearings and work with them upon release.

The unit reviews every client that is committed for a county prison sentence to appraise any possible reentry programs that they qualify for and to determine their earliest possible release from custody.Our legal assistants are trained to make this evaluation on every client, record the assessment, and then follow through with any necessary paperwork and investigation for the earliest parole possible date for each individual client.

We file petitions to terminate probation early, where appropriate. To see if you qualify, fill out our online probation termination request form

Our attorneys and legal assistants search carefully for all clients who can benefit from our many programs no matter the phase of their cases.

PA Act 44: Probation Reform in Pennsylvania

 

In December 2023, Pennsylvania enacted Act 44, a landmark probation reform law designed to create a more individualized, evidence-based, and less restrictive probation system. Act 44 limits incarceration for minor technical violations, requires probation conditions to be tailored to each person’s needs, and establishes a new statewide process for early termination of probation.

The law—rolling out in phases between June 2024 and June 2025—aims to reduce unnecessary supervision, focus resources on high-risk individuals, and provide a clear, consistent pathway for people who demonstrate good conduct to exit probation.

Learn more about Act 44

 

Act 44 Probation Termination Tool

Check out the REFORM Alliances Act 44 Probation termination tool, designed to help users navigate the legal requirements of Pennsylvania’s Act 44, which requires courts to assess people for early termination of probation or the modification of probation conditions. This tool can be used by anyone, but is specifically designed to be used by people on probation.

Check out the tool here

 

Defender Clients: Think you qualify for probation termination? Click here

  • The Choice is Yours
  • Future Forward
  • Accelerated Misdemeanor Program
  • DUI Treatment Court
  • County Intermediate Punishment
  • Crash Court with Detainer Removal
  • State Intermediate Punishment
  • Early Parole Petitions
  • New Leash On Life
  • Second Chance
  • Roots 2 Reentry
  • Wings
  • Work Release
  • Forensic Intensive Recovery
  • House Arrest
  • 407 program
  • State Reentry

The Choice is Yours is an innovative alternative-to-incarceration program that diverts non-violent felony drug offenders away from prison and toward positive social services and support.

TCY strives to reduce recidivism rates and address the problem of prison overcrowding without compromising public safety.

In partnership with JEVS Human Services TCY’s goals are to:

  • Reduce the likelihood of recidivism among TCY
    participants;
  • Reduce state and city costs by cutting the number of trials among the TCY target
    population
  • Reduce costs associated with pre-trial and post-trial incarceration; and
  • Provide participants with the skills and training necessary to become productive, employable individuals
    without the stigma of a criminal conviction.

Heroin will be considered on a case by case basis (following evaluation to determine non-users).

Elisa Downey-Zayas

Chief, Parole, Probation, and Alternative Sentencing Unit

A Guide to Parole Preparation In Pennsylvania (Updated April 2023)