April 29, 2024 - Harrisburg, PA
Lt. Governor Austin Davis and Pennsylvania Victim Advocate Suzanne Estrella teamed up with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) and Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), and Victim/Witness Services of the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office to highlight the importance of supporting victims and survivors of crime and to encourage support for the Shapiro-Davis Administration's proposed $5 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in the 2024-25 state budget. "I've been working on the issue of gun violence for nearly two decades, and I've met countless survivors and family members who've lost loved ones to the epidemic of gun violence. In the aftermath of a shooting, victims experience devastating mental, physical, emotional and financial impacts that echo throughout their lives," said Davis, chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) which administers VCAP. "That's why we must not turn our backs on victims. The Shapiro-Davis budget - and our proposed investment into the Crime Victims Compensation Fund - will help heal our communities and save lives." VCAP serves as a critical financial lifeline for people who have experienced crime victimization. Each year, the program receives an average of 12,000 claims for eligible expenses including medical and counseling expenses, loss of earnings, loss of support, stolen cash, relocation, funeral, or crime scene cleanup, among others. Over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 76,000 VCAP claims totaling $65 million in eligible expenses for citizens across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. List of Speakers:Lt. Governor Austin DavisSuzanne Estrella, Pennsylvania Victim Advocate Melissa Coleman, Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) recipient Deanna Weaver, Victim and Witness Services Director of the Lancaster County DA's Office Gabriella Romeo, PA Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR) Deanna Dyer, PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV)