PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter says he’d back legislation to make witness intimidation a federal offense in state cases.

Specter held a hearing on Friday in Philadelphia to search for answers to what he says is a big problem in many city neighborhoods: witness intimidation.

Philadelphia police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said that many good citizens live in neighborhoods where criminals are effectively enforcing a “don’t snitch’’ mentality.

Two people testified at the hearing whose children were killed before they could testify in criminal cases.