Bellmon, Carroll bill to provide fair sentences for juvenile youth passes PA House
Rep. Anthony Bellmon February 4, 2026 | 3:45 PM
HARRISBURG, Feb. 4 – Today, the Pennsylvania House passed H.B. 1936, a bill that would require courts to account for the total time a child spends in secure detention when determining the duration of their sentence.
The bill was introduced by state Reps. Anthony Bellmon and Andre D. Carroll, both Democrats from Philadelphia.
Currently, in Pennsylvania, if a youth in the juvenile justice system waits for a bed to open at a treatment facility, the time spent waiting is not counted toward their sentence, even though the youth is already detained.
“When I had the opportunity to tour a juvenile justice center, I saw that the state was wasting many young people’s time,” Bellmon said. “Advocates told me that waiting for a bed could take up to 18 months. This practice is cruel, unjust, and unacceptable. Our bill will fix this, providing real justice while keeping our communities safe.”
“Our juvenile justice system should prioritize rehabilitation, not prolonged confinement that can cause further harm,” Carroll said. “Too many children are sitting in detention for weeks simply because treatment beds aren’t available -- separated from their families, schools, and communities without receiving the services they need. This legislation ensures courts consider the full impact of those delays and regularly review alternatives to secure detention. It’s a commonsense step that protects public safety while putting children’s best interests first.”
The bill now moves to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.