House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

Posted:	February 6, 2013 10:43 AM
From:	Representative Gerald J. Mullery
To:	All House members
Subject:	Crime Victims Appearance at Parole Hearings

In the near future, I plan to reintroduce House Bill 1082 of the 2011-2012 Legislative Session, which amends the Crime Victims Act in order to clarify the right of crime victims to appear and present testimony at parole hearings. As you may know, the Crime Victims Act established an Office of Victim Advocate (OVA) to represent the interest of crime victims before the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. The OVA is also tasked with notifying crime victims of parole dates, providing victims with an opportunity to submit pre-parole statements of their concerns and recommendations related to an inmate’s parole plan and to appear in person before the board or hearing examiner or present testimony by conference call during a parole hearing. My legislation would clarify the right of crime victims and their relatives to appear in person and present testimony before the person or body that oversees a parole hearing. Moreover, my legislation clarifies that information pertaining to victims are to be kept separate from other records and that current contact information be kept confidential. Please join me in ensuring the crime victims are properly represented and protected.
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Introduced as HB743