Like many other states, Pennsylvania has what is known as a rape shield law. This statute restricts the types of evidence that a criminal defendant can use when they are accused of a variety of offenses, but is especially prominent in sex crime cases.

It can be a significant obstacle to your defense in some cases, making it a very important law to know and understand.

Here's what the rape shield law is, in Pennsylvania, and why we have one.

Pennsylvania's Rape Shield Law

The rape shield law in Pennsylvania is codified at 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3104. Like a lot of laws, it creates a broad rule and then carves out a few exceptions to that rule.

The general rule is fairly straightforward: People who have been accused of certain eligible crimes are not allowed to defend themselves by presenting evidence of the alleged victim's sexual promiscuity. The evidence that is off the table for these defendants includes:

• Specific instances of the alleged victim's past sexual conduct
• Opinion evidence concerning the alleged victim's sexual history
• Evidence of the alleged victim's reputation for sexual promiscuity

The eligible crimes under the rape shield law are numerous, but are most commonly charges for:

• Sexual assault
• Indecent assault
• Rape
• Statutory sexual assault

The rape shield law might not seem that important. However, the practical implications can be severe: If you have been accused of sexually assaulting someone, the rape shield law will make it very difficult to prove that the incident was consensual by using the alleged victim's past sexual conduct to infer consent. Even if the alleged victim used to be a sex worker and has a past conviction for prostitution on his or her record, the rape shield law will block evidence of that prior conviction from being used in court.

Why Do We Have the Rape Shield Law?

Rape shield laws exist to prevent an alleged victim's prior sexual history from being used to undermine their credibility and, by doing so, remove a significant deterrent to their coming forward. If criminal defendants could bring up an alleged victim's sexual past or their reputation for promiscuity, many women would hesitate to go to the police even if they had a legitimate claim to make.

Additionally, courts have found that this evidence of someone's sexual past with other people is a poor indication of what happened, in the case at issue.

With that said, though, rape shield laws can drastically undermine a criminal defendant's ability to defend themselves against a serious criminal allegation. In some cases, that evidence is important, but the rape shield law keeps it out, anyway.

Philadelphia Criminal Defense Lawyers at LLF Law Firm

Our Criminal Law Team are criminal defense lawyers who represents the accused in Philadelphia. Many defendants face an uphill struggle in proving their innocence, thanks to the rape shield law. While it does serve some important interests, innocent people who have been accused of a crime can pay the price.

Call our Criminal Law Team at (888) 535-3686 or contact us online for legal help.