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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 2, 2024 12:52 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Carolyn T. Comitta |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Hate Crimes Against Disabled |
| Young people and adults with disabilities are at higher risk of violence than those without disabilities, according to the World Health Organization. The rate of violent victimization against persons with disabilities was at least twice the rate for persons without disabilities every year from 2009 to 2015, according to U.S. Department of Justice statistics. In recent years, abhorrent attacks on individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities have highlighted a critical gap in Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code. Currently, Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code provides for hate crime charges dealing with incidents involving acts committed against an individual based on race, color, religion, or national origin. I will soon reintroduce legislation that would add “intellectual or physical disability” to the list of items that prosecutors can consider when contemplating hate crime charges. Attacks committed against individuals with disabilities represent some of the most repugnant acts and should be recognized as such in our justice system. This legislation was introduced last session, Senate Bill 771. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |