The Issue

Children who bravely disclose sexual abuse deserve justice—without being retraumatized by the courtroom. In Pennsylvania, child sexual abuse (CSA) victims are often forced to testify in the same room as their alleged abuser, even when trained professionals have conducted forensically sound interviews that are recorded and deemed credible.

That must change.

 
Pennsylvania’s Legal Landscape: What Exists & What’s Missing

• Under 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5985, courts may allow a child victim to testify via closed‑circuit television if it’s determined that face-to-face testimony would cause "serious emotional distress" and impair their ability to communicate 
• Under the tender‑years hearsay exception (42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5985.1), out‑of‑court statements from children aged 12 or younger describing sexual offenses can be admitted, but only if a court conducts an in‑camera hearing and the attorney presents evidence of reliability and relevance 

What’s missing:

• No mandatory right to testify via closed-circuit transmission—even when testifying in open court causes trauma.
• No automatic admission of professional forensic interviews—admission remains discretionary, case-by-case.
• No requirement for trauma-informed courtroom practices, such as child-appropriate language, paced questioning, or mandatory support.
• No guaranteed presence of victim advocates or guardians for emotional safety.
   

What The Shielded Testimony Act Will Do

We call on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to pass The Shielded Testimony Act—a child-focused, trauma-informed law that will:

1. Require courts to allow CSA victims to testify via closed-circuit TV or video deposition when needed—eliminating forced face-to-face encounters.
2. Mandate recorded forensic interviews by trained professionals be admissible as primary evidence—no longer optional.
3. Ensure trauma-informed courtroom protocols tailored for children—clear language, breaks, paced questioning, accessible settings.
4. Guarantee victim advocates or guardians are present throughout the process.

Why This Matters

🧠 The Trauma of Testifying

• Studies show that up to 90% of child victims rate courtroom testimony, especially facing their abuser, as the most distressing part of the trial 
• A study of 218 CSA victims found those required to testify multiple times suffered significantly higher behavioral problems for months afterward 
• Longitudinal research revealed that children who testified repeatedly experienced elevated depression, PTSD, avoidance, and long-term trauma in adulthood 

⚖️ Courts Aren’t Built for Kids

• Courtrooms are structured around adult cognitive and emotional abilities—formal procedures, adversarial language, cross-examination—all of which overwhelm children's trauma-affected brains 
• Children struggle with complex language, memory limits, stress responses, and the expectation to withstand hostile environments. This leads to higher rates of confusion and self-contradiction under pressure

 
Take Action → Sign & Share 

✍️ Sign the petition demanding a safer, more compassionate courtroom for CSA victims in Pennsylvania.

📣 Share widely: tag legislators, therapists, survivor advocates, teachers, foster care providers—anyone who believes children deserve protection.

 
In Honor Of

This petition is dedicated to two courageous young survivors in my family—and every child who continues to seek justice and healing. May this law empower their voices, honor their strength, and protect their future.

📚 Citations & Resources

1. 
   42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5985 – Use of closed-circuit television testimony in criminal proceedings
   📖 PA General Assembly Statute - Section 5985
2. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5985.1 – Tender years exception for hearsay statements in CSA cases
   📖 PA General Assembly Statute - Section 5985.1
3. CDC: Fast Facts on Child Sexual Abuse (2022)
   📊 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4. National Child Traumatic Stress Network – Court Involvement & Child Trauma
   🧠 NCTSN Resource on Trauma and Courts
5. Goodman, G. S., et al. (2016) – Child sexual abuse victims and the judicial process: Research findings and policy recommendations
   📘 NIH/National Library of Medicine
6. Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center – Impact of testimony on young survivors
   📚 PA CWRC Publications
7. Goldstein Mehta LLC – Overview of child witness procedures and evidentiary exceptions in PA
   📄 Goldstein Mehta Legal Blog on Child Testimony
8. FindLaw: Child Witness Testimony in Pennsylvania
   📄 FindLaw - Child Witness Testimony
9. National District Attorneys Association – Best practices for protecting child victims in court
   🏛️ NDAA Guidance on CSA Prosecution