September 29, 2026 - Harrisburg, PA
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis joined the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR), and local representatives to highlight Pennsylvania's progress in implementing the Commonwealth's first tracking system, strengthening transparency and accountability while providing survivors with greater visibility into the status of their evidence.Governor Josh Shapiro signed Act122 of 2024 into law, launching the Commonwealth's effort to establish a statewide sexual assault evidence tracking system and build a more accountable process for survivors. The Shapiro-Davis Administration is now putting that law into action, with PCCD working alongside hospitals, law enforcement agencies, forensic nurses, and laboratories to pilot the system in Erie, Lancaster, and York Counties before its statewide launch in December."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, they deserve to know their kit is being handled with care and attention, and that their case is a priority," said Lt. Governor Davis, who serves as chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). "In Pennsylvania, between 2023 and 2025, there were about 3,800 reported rape cases each year, and less than half of them were cleared. This new tracking system will not only keep victims informed but it will help them get the justice they deserve. It takes all of us to ensure that survivors are supported - from police to healthcare to victim services - through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, we're ensuring they're all on the same page and helping survivors get their power back."Speakers:Lt. Governor Austin Davis, PCCD ChairDr. Debra Bogen, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of HealthJoyce Lukima, Coalition Director/COO, Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect (PCAR)Kat Gastineau, Director of Education and Advocacy, Lancaster YWCAEmily Huggins, Forensic Examiner Program Manager, WellSpan HealthMajor Colette Smith, Director, Bureau of Forensic Services, Pennsylvania State PoliceCaptain Matthew Irvin, York City Police Department
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