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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
08/01/2024 08:25 AM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=H&cosponId=42903
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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: June 21, 2024 03:18 PM
From: Representative Kristin Marcell and Rep. Martina A. White
To: All House members
Subject: Enhancing Sentences for Criminals Wearing Masks
 
Soon, I plan to introduce legislation to enhance sentences for individuals who commit crimes while wearing masks or face coverings. Pennsylvania already recognizes the use of certain tools in the commission of a crime as aggravating factors, leading to enhanced penalties. Just as these tools increase the potential harm or facilitate the commission of a crime, masks serve a similar purpose by obstructing identification and increasing the difficulty of apprehending offenders.

Under current Pennsylvania law, sentencing enhancements apply to various instruments used in the commission of crimes, such as burglary tools. These enhancements acknowledge that the use of such tools not only heightens the severity of the crime but also poses a greater threat to public safety. Face coverings not only help criminals evade arrest, but also embolden perpetrators to commit more brazen acts, like the numerous antisemitic incidents occurring across the country, knowing that their identities are concealed.