Pennsylvania District Attorneys Put Corrections Reform And Megan's Law On Top Of Agenda

HARRISBURG (CBS) - Pennsylvania's District Attorneys say corrections reform and tightening up Megan's Law are two of the top issues they want state lawmakers to address in the current session.

Dauphin County's Ed Marsico, head of the state DA's association, says he and his colleagues want lawmakers to adopt "common sense" corrections reforms that both control costs and improve public safety. The DA's say simply releasing non-violent offenders won't do it.

"The state prisons are not filled with people who had a joint of marijuana. That is a myth," Marsico said.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, are moving to address another top priority for the DA's; legislation to close loopholes that allow transients and out-of-state sex offenders who move to Pennsylvania to escape registration requirements.

The DA's also want a ban on bath salts and synthetic drugs, laws to make better use of DNA technology, and an update of the state wiretap act. They also want to streamline the appeals process in capital punishment cases.

Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio