Waugh's Bank Robbery Legislation Garners Committee Support

HARRISBURG – Sen. Mike Waugh’s (R-York) Senate Bill 605 gained unanimous support of the Senate Judiciary Committee today.  The legislation would ensure that robbery of a financial institution would be treated as a felony of the second degree, regardless of the method used to commit the robbery. 

"Our local financial institutions, as well as those across the Commonwealth, have been experiencing a steady rise in robberies over the years, which prompted me to introduce this legislation," said Waugh.  "Banks are also concerned with the lack of uniformity of sentences for robbery of a financial institution, which are seemingly insufficient to deter acts of robbery." 

SB 605 amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which contains sections pertaining to "robbery" and "robbery of a motor vehicle."  Therefore, bank robberies have simply been grouped with other "robberies," and if no bodily harm was done but property was taken they have been classified as third degree felonies.   

Waugh’s legislation, however, addresses the specific action of taking or removing money of a financial institution, and now classifies such a robbery as a felony of the second degree.   

Due to the increased use of notes and verbal threats to carry out bank robberies, language has been included to address such instances.  SB605 gives prosecutors the tools they need to prosecute offenders, regardless of the method used by robbers, whether with a note or a gun.  Therefore, even if no weapon was used to commit the robbery and no bodily harm was done, a person can still be found guilty of the offense and be charged with a second degree felony.