Source: US State of Pennsylvania
March 07, 2025 – Lancaster, PA
Shapiro-Davis Administration Highlights Importance of Proposed 2025-26 State
Budget Investment for Victims Compensation and the Critical Role of the
Program for Victims and Survivors of Crime
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), Victim/Witness Services of the Lancaster District Attorney’s Office, and other local victim service providers highlighted the importance of supporting victims and survivors of crime and to encourage support for the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s proposed $9 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) in the 2025-26 state budget.
“No crime victim should have to worry about how they’ll afford medical bills. No family should have to struggle with funeral expenses for a loved one lost to violence. And no sexual assault survivor should have to worry about costs of counseling to overcome their trauma,” said Kathy Buckley, Director of PCCD’s Office of Victims’ Services. “That’s why VCAP is so essential- it’s more than just financial assistance; it’s a lifeline. We need to continue raising awareness about the vital impact of this program and the importance of the Shapiro-Davis budget investment in VCAP to ensure it remains available for Pennsylvanians who need it most.”
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 costs, crime scene cleanup, and more. Over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 67,000 VCAP claims totaling $67 million in eligible expenses for citizens across all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
List of Speakers:
Kathy Buckley, Office of Victims’ Services Director, PCCD
Deanna Weaver, Victim/Witness Services Program Director, Lancaster County DA’s Office
Mary Halye, Lancaster County Children’s Alliance Manager
Christine Gilfillan, Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County Director, Community Action Partnership
Mandy Billman, Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center Director, YWCA Lancaster