House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	March 15, 2013 02:34 PM
From:	Representative Thomas P. Murt
To:	All House members
Subject:	Further Protection - Victims of Sexual/Physical Abuse - Prior HB 2123

There can be nothing more traumatic to a child than being the victim of a sexual assault. As legislators, I believe we have the responsibility to do everything in our power to protect these children and assist them in recovering from their ordeal. Currently the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 5988, provides a measure of confidentiality to child victims of sexual assault by prohibiting employees and officers of the courts from releasing the name of the victim except upon order of the court. Often, pleadings, affidavits and other documents substitute the child’s actual initials to comply with that requirement. That, however, does not fully protect a child. Since most sexual assaults on children are perpetrated by a relative or friend of the family, the name of the offender and his or her relationship to the victim become publically known and provide the context which allows for the identification of the child from their initials, particularly to those who are familiar with the family. I plan to re-introduce a bill (prior HB 2123) to amend Section 5988 of the Judicial Code to prohibit release of a child sexual assault victim’s actual initials in addition to the current prohibition on release of names. I believe this amendment will help protect our most vulnerable victims from further humiliation and trauma. If you have any questions regarding this legislation, please contact Bonnie Book at bbook@pahousegop.com or 787-6886.
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Introduced as HB1109