HARRISBURG – Sen. Tracy Pennycuick’s (R-24) legislation Senate Bill 1484 known as Kayleigh’s Law to provide lifetime no-contact orders for victims of certain serious or violent offenses passed the Judiciary Committee today.
“This bill is named for survivor Kayleigh Kozak, who bravely testified against her soccer coach for sexually abusing her as a sixth grader,” Pennycuick said. “Kayleigh is a strong and determined young woman, and she is an inspiration to all of us. This legislation will allow a judge, at sentencing and upon the request of the victim or prosecutor, to issue a permanent order prohibiting the defendant from contacting the victim.”
Under current law, victims are forced to return to court repeatedly to renew no-contact protections when they expire. Without renewal, an offender may once again attempt to contact the victim, even though the conviction, and the harm that made the protection necessary, has not changed. Unwanted contact can retraumatize victims and force them back into court to maintain a boundary the criminal justice system has already determined is necessary. This is especially true for survivors of rape and other sexually violent offenses, including offenses involving the abuse or exploitation of children.
Senate Bill 1484 will allow the court, at sentencing and upon the request of the victim or prosecutor, to issue a permanent order prohibiting the defendant from contacting the victim, for certain serious or violent crimes. The prohibition would cover direct and indirect contact, including contact through another person or by electronic or digital means.
“Working with Sen. Pennycuick, we continue to advance this important protection so survivors are not forced back into court just to keep a convicted offender away,” said Kayleigh Kozak. “I am proud to work in the Commonwealth to ensure victims have the protections they deserve. An offender’s post-conviction conditions may change or end. A victim’s protection should never change.”
The order could be terminated or modified at the victim’s request or if the underlying conviction is overturned, dismissed or otherwise legally invalidated.
CONTACT: Matthew Szuchyt 717-787-3110