Domestic violence is an endemic problem that impacts every community, every socio-economic level, every corner of the Commonwealth. It is why we created a dedicated line item to support the organizations doing the work on the ground to support the survivors of abuse. However, housing that line item under the Department of Human Services (DHS) causes two problems. First, it fails to recognize that domestic violence is a criminal justice problem, not merely an interpersonal dispute. Second, it relies on the money being passed through a secondary organization to distribute those funds, which means that fewer dollars reach the organizations that are doing the work on the ground.
 
As such, we will soon be introducing legislation to move the line item supporting the organizations doing the work to address domestic violence in our communities out of the Department of Human Services and instead run it through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Using a formula similar to the way we now drive state dollars to our public defenders’ offices, this legislation will direct PCCD to provide funding directly to organizations addressing domestic violence across each of the 67 counties based on case volume. In this way, funding for these programs would be reliable and predictable, organizations would not be made to compete against one another, and direct payments would ensure that the maximum amount of funding reached the people who need it most.
 
We invite you to join us in supporting domestic violence survivors by co-sponsoring this legislation.