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January 12, 2021 - Harrisburg, PA

Auditor General DePasquale: Reforms to PA's Child Abuse Appeal Process Needed to Help Protect Children, Ensure Fairness

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today called for reforms to Pennsylvania's child abuse appeals process, saying the current system puts children at risk of being retraumatized by their accused abusers.

"Children should be permitted to testify by video for their own safety and mental health," DePasquale said. "Allowing abusers to directly confront emotionally fragile children in a closed hearing room is a cruel practice that should have ended decades ago."