Posted: | January 24, 2017 09:30 AM |
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From: | Representative Eddie Day Pashinski |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Domestic Violence : Treatment and GPS Monitoring |
In the near future, I will introduce a bill that provides additional safeguards for victims of domestic violence and more options for sanctions against perpetrators that will help ensure the safety and success of all involved. In light of several tragic fatal incidents involving defendants with current or prior protection from abuse (PFA) orders against them, I believe more must be done to protect victims of domestic violence and the communities surrounding them, and to reduce the chances that a perpetrator will reabuse in the future. Therefore, my legislation makes a number of updates to the PFA Act, including the following key provisions:
This legislation does not make plaintiffs pay for anything, nor does it give counties an unfunded mandate. The defendant must cover all of their own costs, and GPS monitoring for plaintiffs will be paid out of a new restricted account comprised of funds from a new surcharge on assault convictions. As our communities continue to feel the impact of these recent incidents, and as this Commonwealth prepares for the second round of Justice Reinvestment, my legislation would give the court more options for victim safety and sanctions against perpetrators that I hope will reduce future incidents of abuse. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation |
Introduced as HB1337