Sep. 27, 2017
HARRISBURG – Earlier this week, the House Judiciary Committee reported out legislation authored by Rep. Sheryl Delozier (R-Cumberland) that would amend the definition of victim in the restitution law to include all crime victims, not just individuals.
The bill is the result of a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that vacated a former representative’s restitution order for using state resources to run campaigns. The court found that the Commonwealth cannot be a victim as the definition of victim under law only refers to individuals and their family members, not an entity.
“In a recent case, two men who defrauded municipalities in four counties, including Cumberland, out of a total of $2.47 million are now trying to use this ruling to not have to pay restitution back to the municipalities they stole from,” Delozier said. “With the many recent cases of theft from a variety of government entities and organizations, this must be corrected. Without the repayment of restitution, not only is there less of a deterrent to steal, but government entities and innocent organizations, like fire companies, legions and libraries, are the victims, and the taxpayers are left holding the bag.”
House Bill 1806 is now before the full House for consideration.
The 88th Legislative District in Cumberland County includes Lower Allen and Upper Allen townships and the boroughs of Lemoyne, Mechanicsburg, New Cumberland, Shiremanstown and Wormleysburg.
Representative Sheryl Delozier
88th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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