Bill > SB956

This bill adds a new section to Pennsylvania's criminal code specifically addressing child torture as a distinct offense. The law defines child torture as a course of conduct where a person intentionally commits two or more specified harmful acts against a child, including causing bodily or serious bodily injury, inflicting mental anguish or psychological abuse in an especially depraved manner, unreasonably confining or restraining a child, forcing a child to hold extreme positions, or intentionally depriving a child of care, protection, or support. The offense is classified as a first-degree felony. The bill includes important provisions about evidence and defenses, specifically stating that expert testimony is not required to prove mental anguish, a child's susceptibility to psychological abuse is not a defense, and physical evidence of pain is not necessary to secure a conviction. Additionally, the bill defines a "child" as a person under 18 years old at the time the acts were committed or began, and allows a person's financial inability to provide care as a potential defense to the deprivation charge. The law will take effect 60 days after its passage.

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https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=956