RELEASE: District Attorney Krasner Joins PA Lawmakers & Advocates to Call for Swift Passage of No Consent in Custody Legislation

CONTACT:
Jane Roh, District Attorney’s Office, 215–686–8711, Jane.Roh@phila.gov

Harrisburg — November 19, 2019 — District Attorney Larry Krasner on Tuesday joined Sen. Katie Muth (D-Berks, Chester, Montgomery), Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia), and other lawmakers and advocates in the Capitol to call for the passage of Senate Bill 851 and House Bill 1807, No Consent in Custody.

Currently in Pennsylvania, there is no law that fully bans law enforcement officers from engaging in sexual acts with someone in their custody. Officers accused of sexual assault by someone in their custody can use consent as a legal defense. Both pieces of legislation would make any sexual contact between law enforcement and someone in their custody illegal.

“There can be no consent to sexual contact between law enforcement and the person they have in their custody,” Sen. Muth said. “The inherent power dynamics of an arrest and custody situation does not allow for consent to be made. Let’s be clear, the ability to give consent while in custody with law enforcement does not exist in any instance where an officer has used consent as a defense against their assault of Pennsylvanians.”

“This legislation would protect all Pennsylvanians from being victim to this heinous abuse of power and deserves bipartisan support.”

The legislation was first introduced by Representative Rabb in the House last session. Muth supported this effort by introducing companion legislation in the Senate.

Legislation already exists in Pennsylvania to make sexual contact between corrections officers and inmates illegal.

Senate Bill 851 and House Bill 1807 would expand the already existing definition of institutional sexual assault to include law enforcement and those in their custody, making any sexual contact between law enforcement and a person in custody a third-degree felony.

“It breaks my heart to have to inform people that we need to enact a state law to prohibit law enforcement agents from making sexual contact with people in their custody,” Rep. Rabb said.

“Senator Muth and Representative Rabb’s bills will make laws regarding sexual assault of persons in official custody consistent, predictable, and therefore more effective at deterring mistreatment and abuse within the Pennsylvania criminal justice system, all of which have already taken incalculable tolls on people’s lives and trust in government — and have resulted in millions of dollars in lawsuits,” District Attorney Krasner said. “A modern and accountable criminal justice system actively discourages rape and sexual assault through policy and practice, just as we’ve come to expect of all other institutions, from churches to schools to corporations.

“I am thankful to join these leaders and advocates for a more fair and just criminal justice system in the Capitol today, and I urge the timely passage of this No Consent in Custody legislation.”

Elizabeth Randol, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, expressed concern of how current law does not adequately hold police officers accountable with the power that comes with their position.

“Current law completely ignores the incredible power police officers have over civilians in general, particularly those in their custody,” said Elizabeth Randol, legislative director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “That power dynamic makes consent impossible in this circumstance. Anyone in police custody implicitly understands this and knows that not going along with a police officer’s wishes could have serious adverse consequences.”

“Supporters of this legislation recognize that people detained by law enforcement are vulnerable. If enacted, this legislation will hold to account those officers who take advantage of that vulnerability.”

The lawmakers and advocates were joined by Shonette Parilla who shared her experiences witnessing non-consensual behavior at the hands of law enforcement during her time as an employee at a correctional facility and a 24-hour period where she was held in custody.

“As a former employee of George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Delaware County, as well as a former inmate for 24 hours following a dispute with a landlord, I have a unique insight into the extreme vulnerability of people who are taken into custody. I witnessed a great deal of inappropriate, non-consensual behavior between guards, staff, and inmates,” Parilla said. “The concept of sexual consent cannot exist when the power imbalance is as huge as it is within a prison, a police car, or any other situation where one party has all of the power and the other party has none.”

“I am thankful to the sponsors of this important bill, especially Senator Katie Muth and Representative Chris Rabb, and I hope their colleagues and Governor Tom Wolf join them in protecting the rights of women and all people who are trapped within the criminal justice system.”

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The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office is the largest prosecutor’s office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves the more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 600 lawyers, detectives and support staff. The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecution of over 40,000 criminal cases annually.