The Crime Pays Bill came to me after some real soul searching about my actions and wanting to become a better human being. Someone who is no longer selfish and evil, but a person who gives to and helps the communities that I have victimized through my actions. After truly understanding the tremendous impact my crimes had on society and the life changing negative impact it's had on my victims, I wanted to do something that brought about change. I also understood the economic impact it had on my county and state. Before I give you more of my story, let me tell you about the bill I came up with and hopefully with your support we can make it law.

Any person convicted of a felony criminal offense would be subject to paying 10% of their monthly income for 5 years. Any person convicted of a misdemeanor 1 or 2 would pay 10% of their monthly income for 2 years, and a misdemeanor 3 for 1 year. All criminal convictions would require the individual to perform 400 hours of community service, or 10 work weeks. Some people have expressed to me that they feel this bill is to harsh, well let me (a 4 time convicted felon with 15 years of incarceration time) tell you why not only is this crime pays bill fair, but might not go far enough.

 As soon as a crime is committed, “You” the taxpayer loses money. For those who may not be familiar with the system, let me inform you with some surprising information. As soon as a crime is reported police will respond, officers who well deserve it can make anywhere from $40,000 to six figures a year, not including benefits (medical, dental, etc) and where there is more crime, more officers are required, if the cash strapped counties can afford them. As a result, depending on the crime, insurance rates go up, medical rates go up, taxes go up, and population declines in high crime areas (just ask Detroit). This means consumer spending goes down, which causes business to decline, and property values to go down. This is just the beginning of your crime bill as a taxpayer and it just continues to go up.

 Once the alleged criminal is arrested under our great constitution they are given due process, they will be housed and fed until they see a judge who makes anywhere from a 5 to 6 figure salary with benefits, who will give the person a bail. Bail can range anywhere from 0 dollars (released on your own recognizance) to a million dollars for high profile cases. The thing about bail is if you show up you get 99% of your money back, if you don't you loose it, even though there are loopholes in which you can fight for the money back. Most of you will say it's a good thing that they keep the persons money if they don't show up to face justice, and I agree, but like everything in our justice system there is a catch. Bonds are almost always reduced by a different judge who will set a percentage of the bond at 10%, so for example if your bond was $50,000 it is now $5,000, and through a bail bondsman who will charge you 7% of the $5,000 a dangerous criminal can get out now for only $350. If this person chooses to flee and not face their day in court because they feel there is nothing to lose, they state can end up spending millions of dollars looking for just ONE fugitive. If this person is then caught in lets Alaska and lives in Pennsylvania, the cost of transportation back to Pennsylvania will be paid by you the taxpayer, and the officers overtime and salary to go get and return the fugitive will be paid by guess who? Yes you the taxpayer. We have not even gotten to the trial yet and look how much one criminal can cost the taxpayer.

 After Capture the accused will face trial which will consist of a Judge, DA, Lawyer, and Jury. If the accused can not afford an attorney one will be provided for them paid for by the taxpayer along with the Judge, DA, and Jury salaries also being paid for the be taxpayer. The DA might need to pay for expert testimony, forensic lab testing and results, all in a costly effort to get a conviction. If the person is found not guilty then all the money was wasted, and if the lock up the wrong person and they get out on appeal they could sue the state for millions. Those millions will then have to be pad for by the taxpayer. If they get the right person that person will then be sentenced to jail time and pay fines and court costs.

 Now, some of you will say, well it's about time. Finally the criminal will pay for their actions and give back the money they cost us as taxpayers. Not so fast, this is where I use myself as an example to show how much of an injustice it is to Law abiding citizens, and why the Crime Pays Bill needs to become law.

 As I told you earlier, I was convicted of 4 felony crimes, 2 trials, 2 guilty pleas. I've done about 15 years of prison time, It cost the state anywhere from $35,000 to $100,000 depending on the medical and psychiatric needs to house just one inmate. Counting my juvenile probation, detention home stays, trials, judges, DA's, Jury's, police and forensic labor, 2 surgeries and many illnesses, I've easily cost the state of Pennsylvania an estimated 2.5 million in criminal activity. How much have I paid back in fines, court costs, and restitution you might ask? $1,137.85, yes that's it just over eleven hundred dollars. You the taxpayer have paid the rest. For those who don't believe me I've attached my fines, court costs and case numbers to this article.

 This is truly an injustice to the law abiding citizens of this state and country. I'm the one who committed these crimes that affected peoples lives in a terrible way, even if I didn't do something to you directly, I still cost you your safety, a peaceful way of living, and your money. For this I am truly sorry, and I am doing everything I can to make up for the pain and problems I have caused.

 During the last 30 years, Pennsylvania's incarceration rate has exploded by more than 500% to more than 50,000 inmates, requiring the construction of 18 new prisons at a cost of 200 Million dollars, and millions more in operating costs. As a result spending on the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has grown by 1,700%. This money should have went to schools, the elderly, and construction of our infrastructure. The Criminal should pay the cost not the innocent. If I (the criminal) am telling you I need to pay more, then who else do you need to hear it from. Please sign this petition and get the Crime Pays Bill into law. Make the criminals pay for their crimes.