Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 14, 2019.
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
Pennsylvania adds muscle to reviewing convictions for errors
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Marc Levy/The Associated Press
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 14, 2019.
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania’s top law enforcement office is starting a conviction integrity unit to review past convictions for mistakes that might result in them being overturned.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Wednesday that the unit will be headed by Lisa Lazzari-Strasiser, the former chief public defender in Cambria County and former Somerset County District Attorney.
The unit is designed to provide county district attorneys with the resources to analyze past convictions.
Only Philadelphia has a unit devoted to reviewing convictions. Still, the idea could raise jurisdictional objections from county district attorneys.
The move comes as reformers have aggressively questioned Pennsylvania’s criminal justice practices.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
