THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, KORTZ, STABACK AND GODSHALL, MARCH 15, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 15, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation,

further providing for protective orders.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 4954 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:

§ 4954.  Protective orders.

Any court with jurisdiction over any criminal matter may,

after a hearing and in its discretion, upon substantial

evidence, which may include hearsay or the declaration of the

prosecutor that a witness or victim has been intimidated or is

reasonably likely to be intimidated, issue protective orders,

including, but not limited to, the following:

* * *

(5)  Upon the request of a law enforcement officer,

prosecuting official or victim or witness, an order to do any

of the following:

(i)  Conceal the identity of the victim or witness

when testifying by the use of teleconferencing, voice

distortion or other methods to prevent visual

identification. A judge must be present with the victim

or witness when the victim or witness is testifying and

their identity is concealed under this subparagraph.

(ii)  Prohibit disclosure of the identity and

personal details of the victim or witness.

(iii)  Institute security measures, including

transportation to court, provision of a secure room at

the courthouse or other facility and the provision of

police protection for the victim or witness.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.