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| THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA |
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| HOUSE BILL |
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| INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, KORTZ, STABACK AND GODSHALL, MARCH 15, 2011 |
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| REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 15, 2011 |
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| AN ACT |
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1 | Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania |
2 | Consolidated Statutes, in falsification and intimidation, |
3 | further providing for protective orders. |
4 | The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
5 | hereby enacts as follows: |
6 | Section 1. Section 4954 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania |
7 | Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read: |
8 | § 4954. Protective orders. |
9 | Any court with jurisdiction over any criminal matter may, |
10 | after a hearing and in its discretion, upon substantial |
11 | evidence, which may include hearsay or the declaration of the |
12 | prosecutor that a witness or victim has been intimidated or is |
13 | reasonably likely to be intimidated, issue protective orders, |
14 | including, but not limited to, the following: |
15 | * * * |
16 | (5) Upon the request of a law enforcement officer, |
17 | prosecuting official or victim or witness, an order to do any |
18 | of the following: |
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1 | (i) Conceal the identity of the victim or witness |
2 | when testifying by the use of teleconferencing, voice |
3 | distortion or other methods to prevent visual |
4 | identification. A judge must be present with the victim |
5 | or witness when the victim or witness is testifying and |
6 | their identity is concealed under this subparagraph. |
7 | (ii) Prohibit disclosure of the identity and |
8 | personal details of the victim or witness. |
9 | (iii) Institute security measures, including |
10 | transportation to court, provision of a secure room at |
11 | the courthouse or other facility and the provision of |
12 | police protection for the victim or witness. |
13 | Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. |
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