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VICTIM Act Designed to Empower Crime Victims, Police

Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus    June 11, 2025 | 9:10 AM

HARRISBURG – Bipartisan legislation that would provide grant funding to police departments investigating cold cases passed the House today on a 169-to-34 vote, according to the bill’s sponsors, Reps. Joe Kerwin (R-Dauphin) and Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery).

House Bill 1511, known as the VICTIM Act, would help police hire additional investigators, submit evidence for forensic testing, upgrade management systems and take other steps they feel would be beneficial to make arrests for homicide and other violent crimes. It contains a provision that at least 10% of grants go to rural departments.

“Advances in forensic science, data analysis and digital evidence tools are transforming how police solve crimes. But the best tools are often the most expensive, and without the necessary funding, many departments are forced to rely on outdated methods,” Kerwin said. “That’s not fair to victims, and it’s not fair to the officers trying to do their jobs under increasingly difficult circumstances.”

“With the House’s bipartisan passage of the VICTIM Act, we are taking a major step toward delivering long-overdue justice to victims and their families. This legislation reflects our shared commitment to public safety by giving law enforcement the resources they need to solve violent crimes and bring accountability to our communities. It’s about restoring trust, providing closure, and making sure no one is denied justice simply because their police department lacks the tools to do the job,” Briggs said.

The representatives partnered because they feel no family should be waiting for justice when local investigators don’t have the resources they need.

Thirty-six states, including Pennsylvania, experienced decreased clearance rates for violent crimes between 2012 and 2022. FBI statistics from 2022 show a 36.7% clearance rate for violent crimes that are reported to law enforcement.

Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele recently voiced his support for the VICTIM Act, saying “investing in the tools law enforcement needs will improve arrest rates for violent crimes such as aggravated assault, rape, robberies, home burglaries as well as murders.”

House Bill 1511 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.