One in 37 Pennsylvanians are on probation or parole. That’s the fourth highest total in the U.S.

Under current law, those on probation could be incarcerated or have their sentences extended for what’s referred to as a technical violation such as not reporting to their probation officer or traveling out of their jurisdiction for a job.

There seems to be almost universal support for reforming probation in Pennsylvania. A bill passed the Senate earlier this summer with bipartisan support and the House is expected to approve it when lawmakers return to Harrisburg next month.

Erin Haney, Policy Director for Reform Alliance -- a group that advocates for probation reform -- was on The Spark Thursday and said Pennsylvania has one of the most broken systems in the country,"There are nearly 100,000 people right now on probation in Pennsylvania who are subject to a laundry list of conditions, many of which really don't serve any public safety purpose. So they aren't deterring crime or supporting reentry. They serve instead support into reentry, really as obstacles to reentry. So we've actually made it more difficult for people on supervision. We've also made it more difficult for probation officers. And the result of that has been no returns for public safety and a lot of taxpayer waste."

The bill that was approved by the full State Senate and the House Judiciary Committee would narrow the definition of technical violation, provide more incentives for work and education and institute shorter review terms.

The American Civil Liberties Union agrees there is a need for probation reform but objects to a few aspects of the bill being considered. That includes those on probation who don't have a lot of money and are ordered to pay restitution will be at a disadvantage.

Haney responded by saying the current system doesn't allow for poor people to pay restitution and this bill would help them.

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