February 25, 2026 – As Cumberland County District Attorney, I join with my fellow district attorneys from across the state to urge Governor Shapiro and state lawmakers to act on critical public safety priorities for 2026. In a letter addressed to Governor Josh Shapiro, and copied to state legislators, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA) President Fran Chardo (District Attorney of Dauphin County) and PDAA Executive Director Kelly Callihan outline critical public safety threats and propose public policy solutions to address those safety threats. 

The issues and proposals identified in the PDAA letter, are bipartisan. The PDAA represents sixty-six of Pennsylvania’s sixty-seven district attorneys.  The district attorneys who comprise the PDAA are both democrats and republicans. When it comes to the public safety issues outlined in the PDAA legislative priorities letter to Governor Shapiro, we are united in our call for action in three critical issue areas – the promotion of public safety and prevention of violence; the protection and support of victims; the need to update our drug laws.    

As District Attorney Chardo and Executive Director Callihan write in the letter, “Our laws need to match the realities we face. Prosecutors need the right tools to promote public safety and prevent violence, protect and support victims of all ages, keep illegal drugs off the streets and away from our kids, and keep Pennsylvania families safe.” Cumberland County faces many, if not all, the same threats to public safety outlined in PDAA’s letter, especially the need for increased mental health funding and legislation to address the exploitation of minors and the elderly.

Cumberland County continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in the Commonwealth.  With that growth comes new challenges. We are already dealing with many of the same crime related issues that counties many times our size are facing.  Crime issues are never static and therefore our laws cannot remain static.  We must adapt to and, where we can, stay ahead of emerging criminal trends. I am standing with my colleagues in this urgent call to action.

The letter stressed the need for increased mental‑health and substance‑abuse treatment funding and support for recruiting and retaining prosecutors, as well as policy recommendations to address growing threats:

PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND PREVENT VIOLENCE

□ Gun Safety- Empower local prosecutors with a state-level ban on deadly machine-gun conversion devices that allows county-level prosecution to get them off our streets.

□ Skill Game Regulations -Clarify guidance for law enforcement about skill game machines. Levy a tax on skill game machines and enact regulations that ensure consumer protection, require security measures, and prevent underage gambling.

□ Outlaw "Swatting" - The intentional act of making a false 911 call to provoke a police response, or "swatting," puts people's lives at risk and wastes valuable public safety resources. Enact a state law to define swatting as a felony crime.

PROTECT AND SUPPORT VICTIMS

□ Child abuse and exploitation - Ensure every child affected by abuse or exploitation has access to trauma-informed care, safety, and a path toward justice with expanded support for Child Advocacy Centers (CACs).

□ Elder abuse- Update the Pennsylvania Older Adults Protective Services Act (OAPSA) to address new threats to older Pennsylvanians, including advances in technology and sophisticated financial scams.

□ Victim services - Fill the gap left by cuts to the Crime Victims Fund, a primary source of federal funding for programs serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, trafficking, and drunk driving.

UPDATE DRUG LAWS

□ Illegal hemp products - The proliferation of intoxicating hemp products in smoke shops and convenience stores underscores the need for clear THC limits and consistent regulation. Any product with marijuana-like effects should be subject to public safety standards, including accredited lab testing and accurate, transparent THC labeling.

□ Cannabis policy- Create a cannabis regulation board similar to the Liquor Control Board to regulate the sale and distribution of products containing THC in the Commonwealth.

□ Protect minors - Set the minimum age for purchasing hemp products at 21 years old to keep substances like THC edibles and other products out of the hands of children.

I encourage Governor Shapiro and our legislators to join with Pennsylvania’s prosecutors to discuss and find solutions to these important public safety issues.

Sincerely,

Seán M. McCormack, Cumberland County District Attorney