Scarnati Urges Residents to Ask for
Hearing on Placement of Murderer

Area residents who are opposed to a convicted murderer being relocated from a state prison to the Just for Jesus Homeless Outreach shelter in Brockway should urge their local officials to hold a public hearing on the proposed placement, according to Senator Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).

Scarnati said many residents who live by the facility do not want Tracy Alexander, a recently released inmate from SCI Fayette, to move to Just for Jesus because of safety concerns. He said that local governments have the authority to require that residents have an opportunity to have their questions answered in light of safety concerns of the community with the transfer.

“This is a chance for people in the community to let their local officials know that they have legitimate concerns about a dangerous criminal moving into their neighborhood,” Scarnati said. “This has been an ongoing issue and one that has caused a great deal of anxiety for folks in this area. They need to be able to voice their opinions on this decision and others that could affect the safety of their families.”

On a related note, Scarnati said that the Senate recently approved legislation that would help to protect communities by prohibiting group-based homes from providing concurrent housing to multiple individuals who are required to register as sexually violent predators.

Scarnati amended Senate Bill 1183 to make it a civil penalty to house more than one sexually violent predator—unless they are spouses, siblings, or a parent and child. The Pennsylvania State Police or local law enforcement agencies would have the authority to investigate compliance and those found in violation could face civil penalties of up to $2,500 for the first violation and $5,000 for subsequent violations.

The legislation was prompted by the fact that a local group home appeared to recruit inmates from around the state to relocate there upon their release from prison -- creating an unusually high concentration of sex offenders in one area.


“Our first priority should always be to protect the safety of residents in communities where group homes are located – particularly young children -- and ensure that they are not put at risk,” Scarnati said. “Communities should know if violent predators are being housed in these homes, and they should be closely monitored and their numbers limited.”

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