Session: 2021-2022
ACLU-PA Position: Opposes
HB 2276 would combine two existing misdemeanor offenses—18 § 4303 (concealing the death of a child) and 18 § 5510 (abuse of corpse)—to create a new second-degree felony offense, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and $25,000 in fines. This bill was introduced in the wake of a tragic case in Washington County. But criminal law should not be created in response to particularly grievous cases. Hard cases make bad law. Creating new, duplicative offenses only serves to expand prosecutorial power to stack charges, which results in coercive plea deals, longer periods of incarceration, and never-ending increases to Pennsylvania’s $3 billion+ corrections budget.
Check the bill's status here.
