Legislation Quick Search
03/28/2024 01:54 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=11052
Share:
Home / House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 16, 2013 11:22 AM
From: Representative Ron Marsico
To: All House members
Subject: Intimidation or Retaliation in Child Abuse Cases
 
As you all know, the Task Force on Child Protection has completed its work and issued recommendations calling for sweeping changes in the law to better protect our children from being victimized by child abusers. Among the proposals is one to create a separate crime of intimidation or retaliation of a victim or witness in child abuse cases to supplement the general witness intimidation and retaliation provision now embodied in Title 18 Sections 4951-4953.

I agree with the Task Force and believe there is good reason to treat these forms of witness and victim interference differently from other cases. Often, family, business or social pressures can be brought to bear against an individual who has witnessed or suffered child abuse to dissuade them from reporting it or to retaliate against them once they have done so. Likewise, a person who intimidates another from reporting child abuse not only harms the witness, but, by keeping information which would expose abuse from being reported, ultimately harms the child who has been abused by perpetuating it. These considerations call for special treatment and increased penalties to discourage this crime.

My bill will incorporate the language recommended by the Task Force which can be found at pages 240-251 of their report issued in November. It would make intimidation or retaliation a felony of the second degree if force, violence or deception is involved, is part of a conspiracy or if pecuniary gain is offered or accepted. Otherwise, intimidation and retaliation would be a misdemeanor of the second degree.

I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this important piece of legislation.



Introduced as HB404