By Caroline Johnston, Contributing Writer
The verdict that prompted public outrage is now creating a headwind for a law that would prosecute parents who neglect to inform the police of a missing or deceased child with 48 hours.
After the trial, lawmakers were immediately confronted by constituents through emails and letters to push a Pa. version of Caylee’s Law. Within days of the not guilty verdict for Casey Anthony, PA Sen. Larry Farnese (D-Phila) said he plans to introduce a bill to increase penalties against parents and guardians who neglect to report a missing child.
Pennsylvania joins 17 other states considering a version of Caylee’s law.
As it is, the state of Pennsylvania finds concealing a child’s death as a first-degree misdemeanor; under Farnese’s legislation, an individual that fails to report a missing child would face a $10,000 fine and a maximum of 5 years in prison. The act of failing to inform the death of a child would become a third degree felony, making an individual subject to a maximum of 7 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
Some lawmakers are hesitant to rush into a new bill. Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery) expressed his concern that the legislation must be taken with caution and heavily reviewed, rather than rushed and “headline driven.”
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5 Responses
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Great idea, too bad this was not a law prior to this poor child’s death. I support it! Why would you not support this law? As a parent & your child is missing & you don’t report it, u are just as much at fault!
Knee-jerk public reactions to a media-driven narrative do not good law make either.
Hard cases make bad law.