HARRISBURG – Senator Camera Bartolotta (R-46) was honored on Monday as a recipient of the 2019 Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life in Pennsylvania based on her bipartisan efforts to reform the state’s criminal justice system.
The prestigious honor is awarded annually to public figures in Pennsylvania who show noteworthy civility while continuing to fight passionately for their beliefs.
“In an era of divided government and deep partisan disagreements, civility has never been more important in public life,” Bartolotta said. “I appreciate Allegheny College not only for recognizing the ongoing efforts on both sides of the aisle to improve the criminal justice system, but also for continuing to honor the leaders who are committed to working together without being divided by party affiliation or ideology.”
Bartolotta played a leading role in creating the bipartisan, bicameral Criminal Justice Reform Caucus earlier this year in order to provide members of the General Assembly with additional information on reforms that could help improve the criminal justice system throughout the state.
She has worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to introduce a number of critical criminal justice reform bills, including measures to update and streamline probation policies, decriminalize possession of small amounts of cannabis, facilitate pardons and commutations of certain life sentences, and provide for automatic expungement of criminal history after a pardon. She also sponsored a bill that passed the Senate in June to improve communications with crime victims and ensure they receive any compensation they are owed.
Bartolotta was honored along with her fellow Criminal Justice Reform Caucus co-chairs, Senator Art Haywood (D-4) and Representatives Sheryl Delozier (R-88) and Jordan Harris (D-186).
“I am deeply humbled by this recognition and honored to join my fellow Criminal Justice Reform Caucus co-chairs in accepting this award,” Bartolotta said. “I have always believed that what unites us as a state is more important than what divides us, and I hope our cooperation across the aisle is evidence of that.”
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