Bill > HB1952

This bill amends Pennsylvania's sentencing procedure for first-degree murder by adding a new aggravating circumstance to the existing legal framework. Specifically, the bill expands the list of factors that can be considered during sentencing to include situations where the defendant knowingly or intentionally desecrates or mutilates the corpse of the victim. This means that if a person commits murder and then deliberately defiles or dismembers the body of the person they killed, this action can be used as an additional aggravating factor when determining the appropriate sentence. Aggravating circumstances are typically used to support more severe sentencing, potentially influencing the possibility of a death sentence or a longer prison term. The bill will go into effect 60 days after its enactment, giving courts and legal professionals time to prepare for the new sentencing consideration.

Justice

https://www.palegis.us/legislation/bills/2025/hb1952