HARRISBURG, PA - The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association announced the formation of the Human Trafficking Response Team today at State Police Troop H in Harrisburg. The regional response team is the first in Pennsylvania to focus on human trafficking and is comprised of law enforcement, advocates, social services and professional trade associations. "When people hear human
Read full post hereHARRISBURG, PA - Legislation to ban unregulated, dangerous synthetic drugs that are wreaking havoc in Pennsylvania's communities is one step closer to becoming law. The state Senate Judiciary Committee today reported out of committee S.B. 1006 (Vogel, R-Beaver) to ban the possession, use and sale of so-called bath salts, synthetic marijuana and salvia divinorum. Pennsylvania's district attorneys are calling for
Read full post hereHARRISBURG, PA - Pennsylvania is one step closer to making illegal dangerous synthetic drugs that are plaguing communities throughout commonwealth after the state House of Representatives yesterday voted 195 to 0 to ban the possession, use and sale of so-called bath salts, synthetic marijuana, and salvia divinorum. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA) congratulated the House for its overwhelming and bipartisan
Read full post hereHARRISBURG, PA - Improving public safety, using science and technology to identify criminals, and seeking justice for victims of crime led Pennsylvania's district attorneys today to present their top priorities for the 2011-2012 General Assembly. At a Capitol Rotunda news conference, leaders of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA) said the legislative proposals announced today are necessary to protect the
Read full post hereHarrisburg, PA - Important changes to fix a Pennsylvania law that requires the registration of sexual predators are moving through the Pennsylvania General Assembly at "legislative warp speed" because they are a priority for everyone Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association President Edward M Marsico, Jr. (District Attorney, Dauphin County) said today. "The 2011-2012 General Assembly clearly shares the priority of Pennsylvania's district
Read full post hereHarrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association President Edward M Marsico, Jr. (District Attorney, Dauphin County) today issued the following statement in support of Governor Edward G. Rendell's veto of H.B. 1926, often referred to as the "Castle Doctrine expansion bill: "Pennsylvania needs a law that supports law-abiding citizens who act in self-defense, not one that gives thugs a new line
Read full post hereHarrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania's District Attorneys today warned the legislature that Senate Bill 628 would end the historic role of juries in determining whether capital punishment is an appropriate punishment and instead place it in the hands of judges prior to trial. The bill was reported out of the House Judiciary Committee by a 14-12 vote earlier this week. The
Read full post hereHarrisburg, PA - Rep. Seth Grove (R-Dover) and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association are calling on the General Assembly to approve legislation that would address the practice of inappropriate text messaging between teens, referred to as "sexting." Grove's House Bill 2189 would create a new misdemeanor of the second degree for teens caught sexting, which would apply if a minor sends nude
Read full post hereHarrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA) announced that the district attorneys of Lebanon and Berks County were recently elected to fill vacancies on its executive committee. The election took place during the PDAA winter meeting in Philadelphia on February 12. The new executive committee members are: • John T. Adams, Berks County District Attorney • David J. Arnold, Jr., Lebanon
Read full post hereHarrisburg, PA -The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute (PDAI) announced today that five district attorneys were elected to serve as members of the board of directors of the educational and training arm of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. The members are: • Hon. David W. Heckler, Bucks County District Attorney • Hon. Andrew J. Jarbola, Lackawanna County District Attorney • Hon. Eric Linhardt, Lycoming County
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