PRINTER'S NO. 503
No. 496 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, MARCH 16, 1981
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 16, 1981
A JOINT RESOLUTION
1 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
2 of Pennsylvania, permitting the use of suppressed voluntary
3 admissions or confessions to impeach a defendant's
4 credibility.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby resolves as follows:
7 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
8 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with
9 the provisions of Article XI thereof:
10 That section 9 of Article I be amended to read:
11 § 9. Rights of accused in criminal prosecutions.
12 In all criminal prosecutions the accused hath a right to be
13 heard by himself and his counsel, to demand the nature and cause
14 of the accusation against him, to meet the witnesses face to
15 face, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his
16 favor, and, in prosecutions by indictment or information, a
17 speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the vicinage; he
18 cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor can he
1 be deprived of his life, liberty or property, unless by the
2 judgment of his peers or the law of the land. The use of a
3 suppressed voluntary admission or voluntary confession to
4 impeach the credibility of a person may be permitted and shall
5 not be construed as compelling a person to give evidence against
6 himself.
B13L83RZ/19810S0496B0503 - 2 -