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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
04/25/2024 09:59 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=28006
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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 25, 2019 02:49 PM
From: Representative Torren C. Ecker
To: All House members
Subject: Strangulation Bill
 
Shortly, I plan to introduce legislation to ensure that the offense of strangulation is as fully incorporated into our body of laws as other similarly violent and threatening offenses.

In 2016, strangulation was added to the Crimes Code as a primary offense. This legislation, which is a reintroduction of last session’s HB 2437, is necessary to ensure that a prior strangulation conviction will also be recognized and considered upon the occurrence of subsequent related events and judicial procedures. Specifically, the bill will amend section 9714 of the Judicial Code, section 6711 of the Domestic Relations Code, and sections 5702 and 2709.1 of the Crimes Code by adding the offense to a list of applicable “crimes of violence.”

This legislation is critically important, especially in domestic violence situations. Various credible studies have revealed the following chilling statistics:
  • Ten percent of violent deaths of women in the United States can be attributed to strangulation.
  • Forty-seven percent of female domestic violence victims report being choked.
  • Nearly half of all domestic violence homicide victims had previously experienced at least one episode of attempted strangulation.

House Bill 2437 passed the House unanimously last session. Please join me in supporting this imperative legislation. If you have any questions, please contact Joani Harlan at jharlan@pahousegop.com

Introduced as HB854