PRINTER'S NO. 651

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


SENATE BILL

No. 612 Session of 1993


        INTRODUCED BY FUMO, BELAN, REIBMAN, AFFLERBACH, O'PAKE, STOUT,
           LYNCH, FISHER AND SCHWARTZ, MARCH 8, 1993

        REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, MARCH 8, 1993

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and
     2     Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     3     Statutes, further providing for criminal mischief.

     4     The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
     5         (1)  For the health, safety and welfare of the residents
     6     of this Commonwealth, the laws designed to deter the
     7     defacement of public and private property through the use of
     8     aerosol spray-paint cans, broad-tipped indelible markers and
     9     other marking devices should be strengthened.
    10         (2)  Where appropriate, the court should require those
    11     who commit acts of defacement to restore the damaged property
    12     to its original condition.
    13     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    14  hereby enacts as follows:
    15     Section 1.  Section 3304(a) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
    16  Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
    17  § 3304.  Criminal mischief.
    18     (a)  Offense defined.--A person is guilty of criminal

     1  mischief if he:
     2         (1)  damages tangible property of another intentionally,
     3     recklessly, or by negligence in the employment of fire,
     4     explosives, or other dangerous means listed in section
     5     3302(a) of this title (relating to causing or risking
     6     catastrophe);
     7         (2)  intentionally or recklessly tampers with tangible
     8     property of another so as to endanger person or property;
     9     [or]
    10         (3)  intentionally or recklessly causes another to suffer
    11     pecuniary loss by deception or threat[.]; or
    12         (4)  intentionally defaces or otherwise damages tangible
    13     public property or tangible property of another with an
    14     aerosol spray-paint can, broad-tipped indelible marker or
    15     similar marking device.
    16     * * *
    17     Section 2.  Title 42 is amended by adding a section to read:
    18  § 9720.1.  Sentencing for criminal mischief.
    19     (a)  Sentencing.--A person convicted of an offense under 18
    20  Pa.C.S. §§ 3304(a)(4) (relating to criminal mischief) and
    21  3307(a.1) (relating to institutional vandalism), and who in the
    22  opinion of the sentencing court would benefit, shall be
    23  sentenced to a term of supervised community service, including
    24  repairing or restoring damaged property, in accordance with the
    25  following:
    26         (1)  If the damage to the property is less than $200, the
    27     term of community service shall not be less than 50 days nor
    28     more than 74 days.
    29         (2)  If the damage to the property is at least $200, but
    30     less than $1,000, the term of community service shall not be
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     1     less than 75 days nor more than 99 days.
     2         (3)  If the damage to the property is $1,000 or more, the
     3     term of community service shall not be less than 100 days nor
     4     more than 200 days.
     5     (b)  Satisfactory completion of community service program.--
     6  Satisfactory completion of the community service program under
     7  subsection (a) shall result in a dismissal of charges and
     8  expungement of the record of the person convicted under 18
     9  Pa.C.S. § 3307. The court shall follow procedures similar to
    10  those established for the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition
    11  Program.
    12     Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.












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