Danielle Ohl of Spotlight PA
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Pa.’s First-Ever Investment in Public Defense Allowed Offices to Hire Attorneys, Improve Case Management
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But the $7.5 million annual investment wasn’t enough to fix long-standing issues with the struggling system.
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Pa. Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Life Sentences for 2nd-Degree Murder Convictions
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The outcome could fundamentally change the lives of more than 1,000 people currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.
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Shapiro Pick for Board of Pardons Wins Pa. Senate Approval Despite Opposition From Public Defenders, Clemency Advocates
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Opponents to John O’Brien II’s nomination say the doctor’s work as a state witness disqualifies him for the role.
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Shapiro Pick for Board of Pardons Vacancy Opposed by Clemency Advocates
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John S. O’Brien II served as an expert witness in the Jerry Sandusky and John du Pont cases.
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Shapiro Leaves Board of Pardons Seat Empty After Concerns Over Member’s ‘Inappropriate’ Questioning
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Outgoing member John Williams faced criticism from advocates after asking sexual questions and consistently voting no against pardons and commutations.
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Mental Health Care Workers Face Too Many Needs and Not Enough Money on the Front Line of Pa.’s Self-Made Crisis
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Mental health providers often know what works for the people they serve. But there’s not enough resources to help everyone in need.
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Funding Cuts, Lawsuits and Fear Derailed Pennsylvania’s Plan to Close State Hospitals and Invest in Community Mental Health Care
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After a period of psychiatric hospital closures and investment in community support, Pennsylvania has shifted focus to the most restrictive care possible.
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System for Determining if Someone Is Mentally Fit for Trial in Pa. Is in Crisis, New Report Finds
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The study found the mentally ill are swept up by low-level criminal offenses and kept in state hospitals too long, confirming a past Spotlight PA report.
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Watch: How Pennsylvania’s Mental Health System Failed Those Who Needed It Most
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An ongoing two-year Spotlight PA investigation challenges some of the most common misconceptions about mental health treatment in Pennsylvania — most significantly that when people can’t or don’t get help, it’s their fault.
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Ransomware Attack Targeting Pa. Attorney General Leads to Case Delays, Takes Down Some Critical Internal Systems
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The attack has impaired many functions of the agency, as some staff and prosecutors remain unable to access archived emails, files and more.