"Jennifer's Law" Could Prosecute Witnesses Who Do Nothing
By: Carolyn Donaldson
Updated: June 22, 2010
HARRISBURG, DAUPHIN COUNTY - A new bill in Harrisburg is aimed at making witnesses to crimes responsible for their actions.
"Jennifer's Law " would make it illegal for someone to witness a violent crime and not report it to police.
State Senator Kim Ward represents Westmoreland County where 30 year old Jennifer Daugherty once lived.
Last February, the mentally disabled woman was brutally tortured for several days before being stabbed to death and her body dumped in a parking lot.
"Jennifer's Law" would make it a misdemeanor crime punishable up to a year in prison if those watching these violent acts didn't call police.
According to Ward, "By making Pennsylvania the 12th state, we can make a statment in Jennifer's memory. The world may be cold, but we don't live in a heartelss society. We don't look on while evil is perpetuated."
Jennifer's family agrees.
"It's too late to help Jennifer but it's not too late to help the citizens of Pennsylvania, grandkids, people in the future."
Police say two of the six people accused in her death are facing the death penalty.
Comments
We obviously DO live in a heartless society, IF WE FEEL WE HAVE to pass this law.
Just think about it.
Anyone who WATCHED these acts anyway, was guilty of an existing crime. Study the existing laws, before passing new ones.
Mr Twenty Twenty
