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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	October 7, 2016 10:16 AM
From:	Senator Rob Teplitz
To:	All Senate members
Subject:	Creating a crime of intimidation or retaliation in protection from abuse cases

In the near future, I plan to introduce a bill that amends Title 18 to create a crime of intimidation or retaliation in protection from abuse (PFA) cases. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this is an effort to combat domestic violence in the Commonwealth. This bill was developed with input from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Domestic violence continues to plague our communities. Last year, the 60 community centers providing services throughout the Commonwealth assisted more than 89,000 victims of domestic violence. My bill amends Title 18 to create the crime of intimidation or retaliation in PFA cases. A person could be charged with intimidation if they intimidate a victim or witness to: refraining from seeking a PFA, refraining from providing information or documentation, giving false or misleading information, eluding or ignoring a request or legal summons, or failing to appear or participate in a protection order proceeding. Retaliation is when a person harms or engages in conduct that threatens another person as a result of an act that individual has lawfully done, such as file a PFA. Under this proposal, the offense is graded a first degree misdemeanor except when the actor uses force or has an active protection order against them. In those instances, the offense would be graded a second degree felony or a third degree felony respectively. I hope that you will join me in sponsoring this legislation.

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