Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1968 – Amendments
Rights of Accused in Criminal Prosecutions
In all criminal prosecutions the accused hath a right to be heard by himself and his counsel, to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to meet the witnesses face to face, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and in prosecutions by indictment or information, a speedy public trial by an impartial jury of the vicinage; he cannot be compelled to give evidence against himself, nor can he be deprived of his life, liberty or property, unless by the judgment of his peers or the law of the land. The use of a suppressed voluntary admission or voluntary confession to impeach the credibility of a person may be permitted and shall not be construed as compelling a person to give evidence against himself [Source: 1984 Pa. Laws 1306]
Bill Histories
| 1982 Bill History Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 1 |
SB 496 By Senators GREENLEAF and PECORA.
Printer’s No. 503.
A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, permitting the use of suppressed voluntary admissions or confessions to impeach a defendant’s credibility.
Referred to JUDICIARY, March 16, 1981
Reported as committed, May 5, 1981
First consideration, May 5, 1981
Second consideration, May 12, 1981
Third consideration and final passage, June 9, 1981 (35-12)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 789), June 9, 1981
In the House
Referred to JUDICIARY, June 16, 1981
Reported as committed, Oct. 14, 1981
First consideration, Oct. 14, 1981
Laid on the table, Oct. 14, 1981
Removed from table, Nov. 10, 1981
Second consideration, Dec. 8, 1981
Laid on the table, Jan. 25, 1982
Removed from table, Jan. 25, 1982
Third consideration and final passage, Jan. 26, 1982 (191-6)
Signed in Senate, Jan. 27, 1982
Signed in House, Feb. 1, 1982
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Feb. 1, 1982
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 1
Passed Sessions of 1982
| 1984 Bill History 1984 Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 2 |
SB 299 By Senators GREENLEAF, HESS, BRIGHTBILL, PECORA, ANDREZESKI, SHAFFER, HELFRICK and ROCKS.
Prior Printer’s No. 321. Printer’s No. 503.
A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, permitting the use of suppressed voluntary admissions or confessions to impeach a defendant’s credibility.
Referred to JUDICIARY, Feb. 22, 1983
Reported as committed, Feb. 23, 1983
First consideration, Feb. 23, 1983
Second consideration, Feb. 24, 1983
Amended on third consideration, March 14, 1983
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 182), March 14, 1983
Third consideration and final passage, March 15, 1983 (35-10)
(Remarks see Senate Journal Page 193), March 15, 1983
In the House
Referred to JUDICIARY, March 21, 1983
Reported as committed, June 27, 1984
First consideration, June 27, 1984
Laid on the table, June 27, 1984
Removed from table, June 27, 1984
Second consideration, June 28, 1984
Third consideration and final passage, June 29, 1984 (193-2)
Signed in Senate, June 29, 1984
Signed in House, June 29, 1984
Filed in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, June 29, 1984
Pamphlet Laws Resolution No. 2
Passed Sessions of 1982 and 1984
Approved by the Electorate, Nov. 6, 1984 (1,542,142 – 1,076,343)