Court Opinion

ID: 4522519
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-04-03 19:13:23.09188+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:05:28.020998
License: Public Domain

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.

                                    [70 MM 2020] - 2