Governor Josh Shapiro

Home » Governor Shapiro’s Accomplishments » Ensuring the Justice System Works for All Pennsylvanians

Governor Shapiro is working to make Pennsylvania’s justice system fairer and support residents reentering our communities.

Photograph of Governor Shapiro standing at a podium speaking with people.

Announced he would not sign any execution warrants during his term as Governor and called on the General Assembly to abolish the death penalty.

“The death penalty is an archaic, broken policy from a bygone era, and we applaud Governor Shapiro for continuing the moratorium.”
Elizabeth Randol, Legislative Director of ACLU PA

Signed a FY2023-24 budget with funding to support a new unit within the Department of Corrections to allow the department to address backlogs in the pardons process.

For the first time in Pennsylvania history, the Governor secured funding for indigent defense, ensuring public defenders have the resources they need to provide legal representation to every Pennsylvanian.

Awarded $14.5 million through the Department of Labor & Industry to support 10 re-entry programs across Pennsylvania.

Lt. Governor Austin Davis walking the halls of a school with constituents.

Lt. Governor Austin Davis and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded $1.34 million through the First Chance Trust Fund Program to implement scholarship programs that benefit at-risk students in communities with prominent incarceration and dropout rates.

Lt. Governor Austin Davis standing at a podium speaking.

As chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, Lt. Governor Austin Davis spearheaded changes to the pardon application process, expanding eligibility to the expedited review process to applicants with non-violent offenses.