ELLWOOD CITY – Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence) has issued the following statement in response to a recent article published by the New Castle News:
“Clearly there are inconsistencies in the way the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole communicates with district attorney offices when reviewing the cases of violent inmates. I am thankful to Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa for his partnership on addressing these failures by the Parole Board that have harmed communities across Pennsylvania. I was hopeful Board Chairman Theodore Johnson would take responsibility for these failures instead of fighting to maintain the Harrisburg status quo. I believe that providing additional transparency on the Burley case will get us one step closer to stopping violent offenders from harming others in the future.”
In the news article, Board chairman Ted Johnson took exception to a statement made publicly by Lawrence County District Attorney Joshua Lamancusa, that Lamancusa was never notified before the release of convicted killer Keith Burley. (READ FULL ARTICLE)
Burley was let out on parole by the state parole board after serving the minimum of a 20- to 40-year sentence for homicide. Burley, three months after his release, stabbed and killed 8-year-old Mark Mason on July 8, causing an outcry for a deeper look into how inmates are paroled in the state.
Bernstine has submitted a letter to the PA Board of Probation and Parole to bring attention to the matter and request information to help collaboratively seek reforms to ensure that we minimize egregious violent crimes committed by repeat offenders moving forward.
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September 11, 2019 – Bernstine to Announce Legislation on Parole Process for Violent Offenders
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