Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is urging both federal and state lawmakers to step up support for crime victims, warning that service providers across the Commonwealth are struggling under growing demand.
In a letter sent this week to Pennsylvania’s 17 U.S. representatives and two senators, Davis called for at least $1.9 billion in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to be included in this year’s budget. He also pressed lawmakers to back legislation aimed at stabilizing the federal Crime Victims Fund.
“While no financial assistance can undo their trauma, the victims compensation program – and the services provided by others standing with me today – can play an essential role in helping survivors rebuild their lives,” said Davis, who also serves as chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). “Turning our back on victims is not an option.”
Pennsylvania relies heavily on VOCA, which helps nearly 150,000 people annually. Earlier this month, PCCD approved more than $54 million in VOCA grants to strengthen victim service programs statewide.
Advocates and law enforcement leaders joined Davis in pressing the case for more resources. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, said adequate funding is critical to ensuring victims have “access to the resources that give them a sense of safety and lead them toward a path of healing.”
PCCD also administers the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP), which provides direct help with expenses such as medical bills, counseling, funerals and relocation. Last year, the Shapiro-Davis administration secured $5 million in state funds to shore up the program. This year’s budget proposal calls for $9 million in state support.
“The $9 million proposed for VCAP is not just another budgeted line item; it’s a lifeline for victims of crime in every urban, suburban and rural community across the Commonwealth,” said Tiffiney Hall, who is a survivor of domestic violence.
Over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 76,000 VCAP claims totaling $65 million for Pennsylvanians across all 67 counties.
