Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 49, December 7, 2024
Section 96.1 - Authority and purpose(a) On September 25, 2008, the RRRI was established under the act. The RRRI seeks to improve public safety by encouraging eligible offenders to complete programs that scientific evidence suggests may reduce the risk that the offender will commit a future crime. Eligible offenders generally are low-risk offenders who have not committed personal injury crimes as defined in the Crime Victims Act (18 P. S. §§ 11.101-11.5102), any violation of 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 61 (relating to the Uniform Firearms Act) or certain other enumerated offenses. A judge sentencing an eligible offender to confinement in the Department generally is required to impose both a traditional minimum sentence and an RRRI minimum sentence equal to 3/4 of the minimum sentence if the traditional minimum sentence is 3 years or less and to 5/6 of the minimum sentence if the traditional minimum sentence is greater than 3 years.(b) The Department will conduct an assessment of the treatment needs and risks of eligible offenders it receives using Nationally recognized assessment tools. The results of the assessment will be used to develop a program plan that is designed to reduce the risk of recidivism using RRRI programs. An RRRI program is a program that scientific evidence suggests may reduce the risk that an offender will commit additional crimes. An offender who successfully completes the program plan, maintains a good conduct record and continues to remain an eligible offender can be paroled on the RRRI minimum sentence date unless the Board determines that parole would present an unreasonable risk to public safety or that other specified conditions have not been satisfied.(c) This chapter was established under the acts, and is intended to inform judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, defendants, court personnel and the general public about the RRRI.