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State Senator Wayne D. Fontana (D-Brookline) Legislation I sponsored that would toughen penalties against those who harm kids was unveiled this week. Children are perhaps society's most precious and vulnerable group. My bill sends a strong message that we will no longer tolerate those who harm and abuse our children. The proposed legislation was announced at a news conference held at Mercy Hospital, home to Child's Place, which concentrates its care on abused and neglected children. Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, medical officials and advocates for children and victims also took part in the announcement. My bill, (SB1202), would increase the grading and mandate tough new penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences against those who assault or kill children. I was shocked to learn that the average sentence for child homicide in Allegheny County is less than two years in prison. In many cases, sentences are tougher for abusing animals than kids. Under my bill, two new crimes -- child assault and child aggravated assault -- would be added to the Crimes Code. While offenders can already be convicted of assault and aggravated assault when a child is the victim, my bill would ensure that the charge itself indicates that a child was the victim. The crime of child assault would also include a new element of neglect that leads to injury when the victim is less than 5-years-old. Offenders found guilty of child assault would face a minimum of one year in jail. The penalties for child aggravated assault would be graded based upon the age of the victim and punishable by minimum sentences ranging from two to five years. For Third Degree Murder when the victim is less that 13-years-old, offenders would be subject to 20 years in jail. More than 2 million children are abused every year -- with over 2,000 of them dying. Children under 4 years of age make up an alarming 76 percent of child fatalities. I will work to get legislative action on my bill this fall before the legislature's two-year session comes to an end. I am encouraged by the bill's bipartisan support, and will push the measure, as well as keep an eye out for other crime bills that reach the Senate Floor that could be amended. Joining me at the news conference were: Dr. Mary M. Carrasco, director of Community Health and A Child's Place at Mercy Hospital; Deputy District Attorney Laura Ditka from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Child Abuse Unit; Sergeant Richard Mullen, supervisor of the Allegheny County Police Department's Child Abuse Unit; and Commander Tom Stangrecki of the Pittsburgh Police. For more information on this issue, please contact my Harrisburg office at (717) 787-5300. CapNews Guest Speaker: Archives |
