Lt. Governor Austin Davis promotes funding boost for victims compensation program

Shante' Brown, Deputy Secretary of Child Development and Early Learning | Pennsylvania Department Of Education

Lt. Governor Austin Davis, alongside the Center for Victims and other local victim service providers, emphasized the significance of supporting crime victims and survivors. The focus was on encouraging backing for the Shapiro-Davis Administration's proposed $9 million investment in the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) as part of 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 covering the costs of counseling to overcome their trauma," stated Davis, who chairs the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). "The Victims Compensation Assistance Program is a critical financial lifeline for people who have been impacted by violence and crime. The Shapiro-Davis 2025-26 budget - and our proposed investment of $9 million into the Crime Victims Compensation Fund - will help heal families, lessen burdens, and save lives."

VCAP provides essential financial support for individuals affected by crime. Annually, it processes around 12,000 claims for eligible expenses such as medical bills, counseling fees, loss of earnings or support, stolen cash recovery, relocation costs, funeral expenses, and crime scene cleanup. Over five years, PCCD has addressed more than 67,000 VCAP claims amounting to $67 million in eligible expenses across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania.

Speakers at the event included Laurie McDonald from the Center for Victims; Lt. Gov. Austin Davis; Ebony Saunders; Geraldine Massey from Community and Family Support Therapist; Michelle Gibb from Alle-Kiski HOPE Center; Sadie Restivo from Pittsburgh Action Against Rape; Maggie Prescott from Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh; Dee Dee Blosnich-Gooden from A Child's Place; and Grace Coleman from Crisis Center North.