“Ensuring justice is served is in the best interest of the victim, as well as society,” Owlett said. “By making it a little easier for a young victim to testify against his or her accuser, we improve the chances the perpetrator is appropriately punished and also potentially protect other children from becoming victims of the same criminal.
“This issue was brought to my attention by a local constituent, and I’m proud to have had the opportunity to bring this great idea to Harrisburg and have it approved by the House,” Owlett said.
A fear of testifying is one of the primary reasons many sexual assaults go unreported. Child victims in sexual assault cases who do testify are routinely subjected to long periods of cross examination and are often forced to repeatedly describe the explicit details underlying any assault in front of a jury, the media and the offender. By extending the age from 12 to 16 in the Tender Years Hearsay Act, Owlett said the legislation will provide additional protections to child victims and will ensure that offenders are brought to justice.