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January 27, 2025 - Harrisburg, PA

Shapiro-Davis Administration Receives $2.5 Million Federal Award to Establish New Statewide Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System

Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis joined a bipartisan group of legislators and advocates to announce a new $2.5 million federal award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) awarded to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) to improve the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability and transparency through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system.

"Rape and sexual assault is about power - attackers want to take away their victims' power and dignity, their feeling of safety and security," said Davis, who serves as chair of PCCD. "As leaders, we need to do everything we can to help victims feel safe and whole again. If a victim is able to summon the strength to go through the process of getting a sexual assault examination and file a police report, they deserve to know their rape kit is being handled with care and attention, that their case is a priority. Here in Pennsylvania, we're reducing the backlog of processing rape kits, but there's much more work to be done. Now that we've passed Senate Bill 920, Governor Shapiro has signed it into law and with this federal funding, we can create a statewide tracking system that keeps victims informed and helps them get their power back."

The federal award announced today furthers recent legislation, Senate Bill 920, sponsored by Senator Langerholc and signed into law by Governor Shapiro in October 2024 as Act 122 of 2024. The new law requires the establishment of an electronic statewide sexual assault evidence tracking system, enabling survivors to monitor the status of their rape kits throughout the testing process. The bill also enhances the rights of sexual assault victims and mandates reporting by the Pennsylvania State Police.

Speakers in Order:
Lt. Governor Davis - PCCD Chair
Senator Wayne Langerholc
Rep. Joanna McClinton - Speaker of the House
Senator Katie Muth
Senator Tracy Pennycuick
Gabriella Romeo - Public Policy Director, Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR)
Kathy Buckley - Dir. of Office of Victims Services, PCCD



Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair, announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_01.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Senator Wayne Langerholc highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_02.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair, announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_03.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair, announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_04.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> The Shapiro-Davis Administration announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_05.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair, announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_06.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair, announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_07.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gabriella Romeo, Public Policy Director for the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_08.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Senator Wayne Langerholc highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_09.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_10.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair, announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_11.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_12.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair, joined by bipartisan legislators, announces a new $2.5 million federal award to transform the Commonwealth's ability to support survivors of sexual violence and increase accountability through a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system initiative, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_13.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Senator Katie Muth highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_14.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Senator Katie Muth highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_15.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Senator Tracy Pennycuick highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_16.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Senator Tracy Pennycuick highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_17.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gabriella Romeo, Public Policy Director for the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_18.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Gabriella Romeo, Public Policy Director for the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_19.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a> Kathy Buckley, Director for the Office of Victims Services, highlights a $2.5 million federal award to establish a new statewide sexual assault kit tracking system to transform the Commonwealths ability to support survivors of sexual violence, in Harrisburg, PA on January 27, 2025.<br><a href="https://filesource.amperwave.net/commonwealthofpa/photo/27171_pccd_LG_NSAKI_20.JPG" target="_blank">⇣ Download Photo</a>