General Assembly caucus receives civility award for work on state’s criminal justice system

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The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry recently presented the third annual Allegheny College Prize for Civility in Public Life in Pennsylvania award to the four members of the General Assembly’s Criminal Justice Reform Caucus.

The award was presented at the 35th annual chamber dinner and was in partnership with Allegheny College.

The civility prize recognizes public officials who have conducted themselves with noteworthy civility. The lawmakers were honored for their effort to build a bipartisan consensus on reforming the state’s criminal justice system. Their goal is to reduce recidivism and help those who have been incarnated to re-enter into the workforce.

“In today’s divisive political environment, all too often bipartisanship is the rarity instead of the norm,” Gene Barr, Pennsylvania Chamber president and CEO, said. “But tonight’s honorees show that it is possible to work across party lines to find common ground and move important issues forward. As part of our overall workforce development efforts, the PA Chamber has worked closely with all four Criminal Justice Reform Caucus chairs and we are proud to recognize their work tonight.”

The award was presented to state Sens. Camera Bartolotta (R-Greene) and Art Haywood (D-Philadelphia) and state Reps. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) and Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia).