No Indictment Policy Violates Constitution Commissioners Told — Chester County was put on notice, Aug.13, when Washington D.C.-based civil rights activist Jessica Saxton and civil rights attorney Tanawah Downing.
“I am here to put to Chester County Commissioners,” Ms. Saxton told the board.
She explained that that the Constitution prohibits unless indicted by a grand jury.
She said Chesco, along with the rest of Pennsylvania, allows police officers to charge “by information” and ignore indictment.
This is illegal and unconstitutional.
Downing said that federal law states that any person under the color of a state statue or ordinance who deprives anyone of his constitutional rights, commits a crime, as does anyone who conspires to do so.
The latter would apply to the commissioners.
He said he has already prepared criminal affidavits and will turn them into criminal complaints if Chesco does not fix things.
Among those who have prosecuted in Chesco without a grand jury indictment is Mary Bush, who was convicted in July 2024 of harassing a man over an inheritance dispute.
Mary actually notes State Police says no crime was committed.
The matters that led to the dispute are a tragedy and perfectly illustrate why reforms are needed regarding the state’s guardian laws.
What Ms. Saxton’s and Downing’s statements here.
Yes indeed. I am a victim of this and the additional crimes to avoid accountability for violating me in the first place. I’ve tried to share yet so many prefer to avoid.