Chester County Rep., DA Help Pass State Strangulation Law

A local state representative was crucial is helping to pass a strangulation bill into law in Pennsylvania. The new law makes strangulation a free-standing criminal offense in the state.

"Medical experts and police describe strangulation as an especially cruel form of assault," said Representative Becky Corbin, sponsor of the bill. "Victims can slip in and out of consciousness, experiencing fear and terror each time they regain consciousness until the attacker relents. It is a crime most often carried out by someone who knows the victim intimately."

Corbin said that Pennsylvania is the 36th state to pass legislation recognizing strangulation as an unusually cruel crime.

According to the DA's Office, the bill's history can be traced to 2012 and originated in Chester County. District Attorney Tom Hogan took the proposed legislation to Corbin, who agreed to sponsor it.

The bill was given broad bipartisan support: it passed the House 184-3 and the Senate 50-0 before being signed into law by Governor Wolf.

Image courtesy Chester County District Attorney's Office.