2011 Pa. Super. 131 - Commonwealth v. Baker’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

19 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 20 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[T]he basis for the detention; its length; its location; whether the suspect was transported against his or her will, how far, and why; whether restraints were used; whether the law enforcement officer showed, threatened or used force; and the investigative methods employed to confirm or dispel suspicions.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Commonwealth v. Bartholomew · 45 Pa. D. & C.5th 130 - Commonwealth v. Quinn

2. “§ 9799.24. Assessments [[Image here]] (b) Assessment. — Upon receipt from the court of an order for an assessment, a member of the board ... shall conduct an assessment of the individual to determine if the individual should be classified as a sexually violent predator. The board shall establish standards for evaluations and for evaluators conducting the assessments. An assessment shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of the following: (1) Facts of the current offense, including: (i) Whether the offense involved multiple victims. (ii) Whether the individual exceeded the means necessary to achieve the offense. (iii) The nature of the sexual contact with the victim. (iv) Relationship of the individual to the victim. (v) Age of the victim. (vi) Whether the offense included a display of unusual cruelty by the individual during the commission of the crime. (vii) The mental capacity of the victim. (2) Prior offense history, including: (i) The individual’s prior criminal record. (ii) Whether the individual completed any prior sentences. (iii) Whether the individual participated in available programs for sexual offenders. (3) Characteristics of the individual, including: (i) Age. (ii) Use of illegal drugs. (iii) Any mental illness, mental disability or mental abnormality. (iv) Behavioral characteristics that contribute to the individual’s conduct. (4) Factors that are supported in a sexual offender assessment fíeld as criteria reasonably related to the risk of reoffens”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 2014 Pa. Super. 151 - Commonwealth v. Prendes

3. “In weighing Dr. Chambers' testimony this [c]ourt noted that he had not personally examined or evaluated [Appellant]. Based upon the testimony offered on behalf of the [p]arties, the SVP assessment conducted by Ms. Brust on 31 March 2015, and the written critique of the assessment prepared by Dr. Chambers, this [c]ourt found that the Commonwealth had met its burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence that [Appellant] has been convicted of a sexually violent offense and has a mental abnormality or disorder which makes him likely to engage in predatory sexually violent offenses. In light of this finding, this [c]ourt then designated [Appellant] an SVP subject to the registration requirements of Pennsylvania law. In making its determination of [Appellant]'s SVP status, this [c]ourt compared and contrasted the assertions of Ms. Brust as reflected in her hearing testimony and her personal interaction with [Appellant] in conducting his SVP assessment, with the observations and opinions advanced by Dr. Chambers in his hearing testimony and written critique of Ms. Brust's assessment. This comparison led this [c]ourt to the conclusion that, although both Ms. Brust and Dr. Chambers were both well qualified to evaluate [Appellant], the nature and weight of the evidence presented by the Commonwealth was sufficient to establish that [Appellant] is an SVP notwithstanding any assertion to the contrary advanced by Dr. Chambers. In reaching its conclusion, this [c]ourt noted, considere”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 2016 Pa. Super. 121 - Commonwealth v. Schrader