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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 27, 2014 09:45 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Joseph B. Scarnati, III |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Mandatory Minimum Sentence for Murder of a Child |
In the near future I plan to introduce legislation which would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of thirteen years in prison for an individual convicted of 3rd degree murder when the victim is a child under the age of 13. This legislation has become a necessity in light of the recent lenient sentence handed-down by Philadelphia judge, Benjamin Lerner, to an individual who was convicted of murdering multiple newborn babies while employed at Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s abortion clinic. The judge sentenced Dr. Gosnell’s employee to only 6-12 years in prison for these heinous crimes. http://articles.philly.com/2014-02-14/news/47308309_1_kermit-gosnell-steven-massof-abortions Mandatory minimum sentences are not always appropriate in our judicial system, however, currently under Pennsylvania law, an individual who commits a sexual assault against a child is subject to a mandatory minimum prison sentence of ten years. Yet, there is no mandatory minimum sentence for someone convicted of a 3rd degree murder of a child. My legislation would alleviate this discrepancy by setting a minimum of thirteen years in prison for murder of a child under the age of 13. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as SB1368