An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in post-trial matters, further providing for scope of subchapter and for eligibility for relief, providing for postconviction resentencing relief for defendant survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence or human trafficking and further providing for jurisdiction and proceedings; and, in sentencing, further providing for sentencing procedure for murder of the first degree and providing for criminal prosecutions involving defendant survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence or human trafficking.

This bill allows individuals in Pennsylvania who are currently serving prison sentences or awaiting execution to request a new sentencing hearing if they were survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, or human trafficking. To qualify, a person must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that their victimization was a significant factor that contributed to their criminal behavior. The law requires petitioners to submit specific documentation, such as medical records, police reports, or sworn statements from witnesses, to support their claim of survivor status and the link between the trauma and their crime. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for filing these petitions in the court where the original conviction occurred and establishes that survivor status can serve as a mitigating circumstance in capital cases.