Bernstine to Announce Legislation on Parole Process for Violent Offenders

ELLWOOD CITY – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) announced today that he will be introducing legislation which focuses on the parole process for violent offenders. This in the wake of the recent murder of a child in Lawrence County.

Bernstine will participate in a press conference held at the Lawrence County Government Center, on Thursday, Sept. 12, at 11 a.m. with Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa regarding Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Keith Burley. He is the defendant charged with the murder of a child in Lawrence County.

Bernstine’s legislation would postpone consideration of a violent inmate’s parole until an additional 24 months following the inmate’s minimum release date for each conviction for a violent offense while incarcerated. In addition, the legislation would postpone consideration of an inmate’s parole an additional 12 months if the inmate attempts to escape, smuggles contraband, or retaliates against witnesses while incarcerated.

Burley, a convicted murderer, was released from prison in March after serving 20 years in a robbery/shooting death. While in prison, he was charged again for an incident inside the facility. This time the charges were aggravated assault and assault by a prisoner. He also had previous firearms and reckless endangerment charges.

After serving his sentence, Burley was arrested in early July in the stabbing death of 8-year-old Mark Edward Mason, whom he allegedly abducted in a car with his 7-year-old brother during a domestic dispute with the boys’ mother.

“I was dismayed to learn that the perpetrator of this heinous and senseless act was convicted of two separate assaults on other inmates while serving his original sentence,” said Bernstine. “My legislation would help foster a safer environment in prison, as inmates will have a strong incentive to behave, as well as seek to keep the most dangerous inmates from a premature release in order to better protect and serve our Commonwealth residents.”