One of the latest justice reform bills that are now law will streamline the placement of offenders into drug treatment and other intermediate punishment programs, and improve the parole process for non-violent offenders.
The other creates a panel to advise counties on probationers, with an eye toward reducing imprisonment.
But some Democrats, including Sen. Vincent Hughes — representing part of Philadelphia and Montgomery counties— objected to some mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines in the legislation.
"We must always be mindful of, as we know in our language, the slippery slope," he said.
"This is a very targeting mandatory minimum to child rapists who harm our children," said Republican Lisa Baker, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.
More justice reform bills are still in the pipeline in the state legislature.