Pennsylvania Prosecutors Urge Governor Shapiro and State Lawmakers to Act on Critical Public Safety Priorities for 2026
HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA) issued a letter to Governor Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers urging them to take action on issues that will better protect communities.
“Prosecutors need the right tools to promote public safety and prevent violence, protect and support victims of all ages, keep illegal drugs off the streets and away from our kids, and keep Pennsylvania families safe,” writes PDAA President Fran Chardo. “Our laws need to match the realities we face.”
The letter stressed the need for increased mental‑health and substance‑abuse treatment funding and support for recruiting and retaining prosecutors, as well as policy recommendations to address growing threats:
PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREVENT VIOLENCE
- Gun Safety – state-level ban on deadly machine‑gun conversion devices
- Skill Game Regulations – levy a tax and enact regulations on skill game machines
- Outlaw “Swatting” – define the intentional act of making a false 911 call as a felony
PROTECT AND SUPPORT VICTIMS
- Child abuse and exploitation – expand support for Child Advocacy Centers (CACs)
- Elder abuse – update the Pennsylvania Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA)
- Victim services – fill the gap left by federal cuts to the Crime Victims Fund
UPDATE DRUG LAWS
- Illegal hemp products – define clear THC limits and regulate marijuana‑like products
- Cannabis policy – create a cannabis regulation board
- Protect minors – set the minimum age for purchasing hemp products at 21 years old
PDAA Executive Director Kelly Callihan added, “We are committed to collaborating with the governor and lawmakers to advance these priorities and address the evolving threats facing Pennsylvania communities.”
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