Ortitay introduces prohibitive prison ‘pen pal’ bill
Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-South Fayette, introduced legislation to prohibit Pennsylvania inmates from placing advertisements on so-called “pen pal” websites.
The issue rose to the attention of the Legislature when an inmate, Richard Poplawski, convicted of murdering three Pittsburgh police officers, advertised on the website ConvictPenPal.com, seeking “friendship” and “legal help.” Similar bans were upheld in Florida and Indiana.
Ortitay co-introduced the bipartisan bill along with Rep. Dom Costa, D-Allegheny. At the time of its introduction, House Bill 2132 had 37 co-sponsors.