GUEST COLUMN	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bill Thomas House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: wthomas@pahouse.net	State Rep. Cherelle Parker D-Philadelphia www.pahouse.com/parker
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ATTENTION EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR: Please consider publishing the following guest column by state Rep. Cherelle Parker, D-Phila., on the OP-ED or Guest Column page of your newspaper. Please use the contact information above for questions or confirmation. Thank you for your consideration.

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Thursday, July 12, 2007

Providing true independence for Pennsylvania’s witnesses

By state Rep. Cherelle Parker, D-Phila.

As I spent the afternoon of the Fourth of July at the various holiday celebrations held throughout my district, I thought about how valuable freedom truly is, and how blessed we are to have opportunities to seek out life, liberty and a pursuit of happiness.

But in so many communities across Pennsylvania, and especially in Philadelphia, there are some citizens who are not free and are being held captive by thugs, gangsters and murderers through scare tactics and coercion.

Fear. Intimidation. Threats. These are the most effective weapons used by criminals. They are able to maintain control and perpetuate crime and violence by ensuring that any witnesses to their dirty deeds keep quiet.

Until now, that is. I recently introduced a bill that would establish a permanent witness relocation program in Pennsylvania with a dedicated source of funding. Recently, the state House of Representatives agreed that this bill is crucial to protecting victims and witnesses, unanimously passing House Bill 27. This would mean that any witness could receive armed protection to and from trial, housing and basic living expenses, and relocation arrangements if a prosecutor determined that there is a credible threat to the witness.

Over the last five years, the state attorney general has had in place a temporary witness relocation program. It has been proven effective and has had admirable intentions. Since 2002, the program has opened 412 cases across Pennsylvania. But earlier this year, proposals surfaced that would cut funding for that program, which already lacks a secure financing source.

This issue is too important for us to ignore. We need to put this program into law and guarantee funding.

With crime on the rise, we need witnesses to come forward more than ever. Criminals are using fear and intimidation to keep witnesses from testifying, and for that they should be punished. The “don’t snitch” mentality that is invading our communities needs to be stopped in its tracks. Witnesses must be protected from retribution, because our justice system relies on their ability to speak out.

The House has already taken the right step by passing this bill. The responsibility now lies with the Senate. I encourage you to contact your senator and ask him or her to vote for House Bill 27. If the bill passes and the governor signs it, witnesses and victims across the state will be able to sleep soundly at night and proclaim a new Independence Day.

Cherelle L. Parker

State Representative

200th Legislative District

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