House Republicans in Pennsylvania held a press conference Wednesday morning to discuss violent crime throughout the commonwealth and efforts to hold violent criminals accountable.

Representatives including Tim Bonnar, Craig Williams and Clint Owlett discussed efforts to improve prevention, policing, prosecution and punishment.

"We understand and believe in second chances, but we also believe in punishment when you have done the crime," said PA House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler.

Representative Bonnar, who represents Mercer and Butler Counties says these proposed reforms will effectively address crime rate in Pennsylvania and beyond.

"One crime is too many. All you need to do is ask the victim and the victim's family members the devastating effect crime has not only on those within that family but those who surround that community and across this nation," Bonnar said.

Bonnar says the time period from the date of arrest to the date of the verdict can be very dangerous bringing up issues involving bail.

Bonnar says those suspected of a crime have the constitutional right to bail unless they are deemed a danger to their community or a flight risk, but says there are no guidelines to help the courts determine how to set bail.

"At this stage of the proceedings when the individual is first arrested, the police, the prosecutors, the defense lawyers and the judges often disagree as to the potential threat to the community, as well as to the need to recognize the presumption of innocence of the accused," Bonnar said.

Bonnar added that there is little consistency in when bond is and is not allowed in Pennsylvania with each county having its own approach.

"We see some counties where bail is very minimal for very serious and violent crimes, whereas in other counties, bail is very significant," Bonnar said.

Bonnar proposed legislation to require the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission to gather information from Pennsylvania and beyond to establish fair and consistent bail guidelines to help the courts establish fair, reasonable bail.

"This proposed legislation is meant to bring justice to the setting of bail in Pennsylvania so that the accused's constitutional rights are protected and the victim and the community are confident that their safety and welfare are at the forefront of our criminal justice system," Bonnar said.

Another piece of legislation was proposed by Representative Owens of Delaware County discussed legislation regarding sentencing reform which would prevent judges from deviating from federal sentencing guidelines without good cause to establish more consistency in punishment in the commonwealth.

Meanwhile Representative Owlett of Tioga and Bradford Counties discussed legislation that would prevent judges from handing down concurrent sentences in crimes with multiple victims and would require criminals to serve consecutive sentences for each individual victim.

Owlett also discussed legislation making it a criminal offense to wear a disguise such as a face mask with the intention of hiding your identity from police.