Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

 In the near future I will introduce legislation which amends the Judicial Code (Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes) in order to empower courts to order restitution for all reasonable expenses incurred by a victim when a defendant is found guilty of the crime of Tampering With or Fabricating Physical Evidence or the crime of Tampering With Public Records or Information. House Bill 1126 passed the House on November 1, 2011 (196-0).
 
Specifically, this legislation will allow a court to sentence a defendant to make the victim whole with respect to expenses incurred by the victim to:
 

•  investigate the circumstances surrounding the defendant’s violation of either of the statutes which make it unlawful to tamper with evidence or public records;
• bring or defend civil or criminal actions related to the defendant’s violation of either of the statutes which make it unlawful to tamper with evidence or public records;
• take other corrective or remedial efforts in connection with the defendant’s violation of either of the statutes which make it unlawful to tamper with evidence or public records.

 
The types of expenses the bill makes coverable are attorney fees and court costs and filing fees, as well as any other expense the court deems proper.
 
DM/ssb