Briggs, Kerwin introduce bipartisan bill to help victims of violent crime
Rep. Tim Briggs June 3, 2025 | 4:53 PM
HARRISBURG, June 2 – In a bipartisan effort to increase public safety and justice for victims of violent crime, state Reps. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, and Joe Kerwin, R-Dauphin, introduced legislation aimed at improving how violent crimes are solved across Pennsylvania.
Known as the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act, H.B. 1511 would create a new grant program through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to provide law enforcement with the critical tools and resources needed to improve clearance rates for homicides and other serious offenses.
“Too many violent crimes in Pennsylvania go unsolved, leaving victims and families without closure and communities without justice,” said Briggs, the majority chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “Our legislation will help ensure law enforcement agencies—especially at the local level—have what they need to investigate and solve these cases.”
Currently, more than a quarter of homicides in Pennsylvania remain unsolved, and only about one-third of other major crimes, including robbery and burglary, are cleared. The VICTIM Act would address these gaps by enabling police departments to apply for funding to:
- Hire and retain detectives and investigators.
- Invest in evidence-analysis technology.
- Comply with reporting and program accountability requirements.
The legislation also includes a strong evaluation component to assess program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement over time.
“No family should be waiting on justice because their local police don’t have enough resources. These grants would help all our law enforcement – regardless of community size – have access to tools that can get violent criminals off the streets and provide answers to a victim’s loved ones,” Kerwin said.
The lawmakers emphasized that solving more violent crimes will result in:
- Greater justice and healing for victims and families.
- Reduced crime through offender accountability.
- Increased trust between law enforcement and communities, especially those disproportionately affected by violent crime.
Briggs and Kerwin were joined in support by law enforcement leaders and advocates for crime victims, who underscored the urgency of taking action.
“Our goal is simple: improve justice, enhance public safety and invest in the effectiveness of our law enforcement,” Briggs said.
Briggs represents the 149th Legislative District, which is comprised of Bridgeport, West Conshohocken, Upper Merion and parts of Lower Merion in Montgomery County.
Kerwin represents the 125 Legislative District, which is comprised of Berrysburg,
Dauphin, Elizabethville, Gratz, Halifax Borough, Halifax Township, Jackson, Jefferson,
Lower Paxton, Lykens Borough, Lykens Township, Middlepaxton, Mifflin, Millersburg, Pillow,
Reed, Rush, Upper Paxton, Washington, Wayne, West Hanover, Wiconisco, Williams and
Williamstown Borough in Dauphin County.