Latest news with #PennsylvaniaCommissiononCrimeandDelinquency
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
New class of deputy sheriffs set to graduate from Penn State-run training academy
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WTAJ) — After 19 weeks of intensive law enforcement training, 38 newly hired deputy sheriffs from across Pennsylvania are ready to return to their communities with new skills, certifications and a shared sense of purpose. The group will graduate at 11 a.m. on May 16 at The Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, marking the completion of the Pennsylvania Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Program, administered by the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute (JASI). This is the 70th class to graduate since the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency designated JASI as the academy's administrator in 2000. The program certifies and recertifies approximately 2,100 sheriffs and deputies across the commonwealth. Class President Madison Rush, from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, said the training was both a personal milestone and a family honor. Her peers selected her to lead the class through the academy's rigorous curriculum. The trainees received instruction from law enforcement professionals throughout Pennsylvania. The curriculum included courses on crime codes, civil procedures, ethics, diversity, first responder skills, firearms, defensive tactics, courtroom security and physical training. Cambria County's Nathan Fisher served as class vice president. Mercer County's Joseph Buccini, a former military police officer and class platoon leader, said returning to serve at age 50 was especially meaningful after previously attending Penn State and working in the private and public sectors. The program combines classroom instruction with real-world training from judges, attorneys and officers from all levels of law enforcement. Upon graduation, the new deputies will begin work in counties across Pennsylvania. To learn more about the academy, visit the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Criminal justice advocates call for changes in Pennsylvania
CLEARFIELD COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Over 500 criminal justice advocates, court officials and state departments attended an annual conference in State College to discuss issues in the criminal justice system and ways to address them. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Conference held its annual two-day Criminal Justice Advisory Board (CJAB) Conference, and in attendance was the largest gathering of advocates since the conference's inception in 2007. Members of the court justice system, including Clearfield County District Attorney Ryan Sayers, met to discuss what they're seeing in Pennsylvania. This year's conference had a theme of 'From Crisis to Collaboration: Building Resilient Justice Systems,' and worked to address the pressing challenges facing the justice and behavioral health systems. Sayers spoke with WTAJ and said that a lot of the discussions at this year's conference surrounded mental health and drug rehabilitation. 'One of the big things that we're seeing is an increase in mental health, mental health cases and how mental health is usually coinciding with drug addiction. There are different programs and specialty courts around the Commonwealth to deal or to help deal with those items,' Sayers said. Central PA senator sends letter for information on committee that proposed SCI, boot camp closure However, he also noted that Clearfield County is one of the counties that lacks specialty programs for those issues. 'So we don't have those specialty courts in Clearfield County to deal with these things. The hope is, is that, you know, hopefully next year we will get into implementing such programs in Clearfield County,' Sayers added. Since Clearfield doesn't have specific programs, Sayers said that the criminal justice system does the best it can when it's presented with mental health cases. Adding that one thing the county has is the Quehanna Boot Camp. Although the boot camp wasn't talked about during any of the conference's panels, it was still a topic of discussion among the attendees. 'I did have those conversations, and it was a discussion that the boot camp is the only type of program in the Department of Corrections to have what it has,' Sayers added. Sayers previously stated that the boot camp provides prisoners structure, discipline, education and therapeutic techniques in order for them to be successful once released. Adding that the reincarceration rate from the program is just a little over 25%, which is 22% lower than the statewide rate. However, despite the arguments about what the boot camp can provide, it's also facing problems. Currently, it's on the list of possible closures recommended by a committee with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. Sayers added that all those who brought up the possible closure were in agreement that they hope Governor Shapiro will change his mind. During the conference, there were sessions that the PCCD hopes will provide those working in the criminal justice system with tools and strategies to build a more responsive justice system. Here are some of the topics they discussed: Behavioral health screening Risk assessments, Law enforcement collaboration Crisis response strategies Supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
PA highlights continued investments in violence prevention strategies
Apr. 7—As Pennsylvania sees a welcome decline in homicides statewide, state and local leaders this week stressed the need to continue investing in the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's (PCCD) Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Grant Program to sustain and expand efforts that have contributed to these positive trends. In 2024, Philadelphia saw its lowest homicide rate in a decade, and in Pittsburgh, homicides continued to decrease, down nearly 20% from the previous year. Since 2022, there has been a 42% decrease in total victims of gun violence statewide. "The progress we've made in reducing homicides across Pennsylvania is not an indication that our work is done—it is evidence that our strategies are working," said Lt. Governor Austin Davis, PCCD Chair. "Just as you don't stop medical treatments when symptoms improve, we must not become complacent in the fight against gun violence. Continued and increased investments are essential to ensuring every Pennsylvanian can be safe and feel safe in their community." The Shapiro-Davis Administration's proposed 2025-26 budget includes a $10 million increase for PCCD's VIP Grant Program and an additional $10 million for the Building Opportunity through Out-of-School Time (BOOST) initiative — bringing the total proposed investment in PCCD's gun violence prevention programs to $75 million. In the most recent round of funding, PCCD received an overwhelming response with 478 applications requesting more than $174 million — more than three times the current allocation of $56.5 million in funding. A cornerstone of Pennsylvania's violence prevention efforts, the VIP Grant Program has supported 435 local and statewide grant projects addressing the root causes and impacts of community violence. These efforts include mentorship and youth programs, job training, street outreach, enhanced collaboration between law enforcement and community-based organizations, victims' services, and more. Sustained and expanded investments in these programs are particularly critical for populations where gun violence has increased in recent years, including children and adolescents — for whom firearms are the leading cause of death— as well as victims of domestic violence. Keeping communities safe: Senate advances key bills to strengthen crime prevention The Senate took action this week to hold dangerous criminals accountable, according to Sen. Dave Argall (R-29). "These important bills will keep our families and communities safe," said Argall. "Criminals need to know that if they commit these crimes, there will be serious consequences." The Senate approved three key bills to protect Pennsylvania communities: —Senate Bill 92 — would impose tougher penalties on drug dealers who sell fentanyl resulting in a fatal overdose. A person who sells or engages in a monetary transaction to distribute fentanyl resulting in a death would face a mandatory minimum 25-year sentence upon conviction, to send a strong message that those fueling the opioid crisis will face severe consequences. —Senate Bill 471 — would require prosecutors to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when a criminal defendant is identified as unlawfully present in the United States, ensuring that individuals who commit serious crimes are transferred to federal custody for removal proceedings. The bill also would prohibit sanctuary policies that obstruct communication between local law enforcement and federal agencies. —Senate Bill 490 — would prohibit non-monetary bail for the most dangerous individuals, including those who possess 10 grams or more of fentanyl, have a history of violent crime, or assault a law enforcement officer. "These bills fight crime, protect Pennsylvania families, and ensure that our law enforcement officials have the tools they need to uphold justice," Argall said. "Each measure builds upon broader efforts to make Pennsylvania a safer place to live, work and raise a family." State invests more than $1M in veterans services; announces grant awardees through Veterans' Trust Fund program The Shapiro Administration this week announced it has awarded $1,021,640 in grants through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs' (DMVA) Veterans' Trust Fund (VTF). The $1,021,640 in funding raised through donations will support 15 county directors of veterans affairs and 24 nonprofits and veterans service organizations across the commonwealth as they carry out initiatives to address challenges Pennsylvania veterans face, from food and housing insecurity to transportation and behavioral health issues. Since the VTF grant program began in 2013, a total of $8,504,500 has been awarded to organizations that serve Pennsylvania veterans. "Our veterans have served our country and fought for our freedoms, and my administration has their backs," said Gov. Josh Shapiro. "The Veterans' Trust Fund, supported through Pennsylvanians' generous donations, provides vital resources for the organizations that support Pennsylvania's 700,000 veterans — organizations that make sure our veterans can put food on the table, have transportation to get where they need to go, and receive the benefits they earned through their service. We will continue to work to ensure that the brave men and women who protected our freedoms have the opportunity to succeed and can prosper here in the commonwealth." "There are so many incredible veteran advocacy organizations in Pennsylvania, but they can't do all the work without financial support, and that is why the Veterans' Trust Fund is so important," said Maj. Gen. John Pippy, Pennsylvania's adjutant general and head of the DMVA. "Thanks to the generosity of so many Pennsylvanians, we are able to provide much needed support through the VTF to these organizations." The DMVA directed $201,790 in VTF grant funding to county directors of veterans affairs for new, innovative, or expanded programs or services. —The grantees and the specific award amounts to support veteran outreach initiatives included $15,000 to the Luzerne County Veteran Affairs Office. DMVA also awarded $819,850 in funding to veteran service organizations with 501(c)(19) status and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and a mission of serving Pennsylvania veterans. Funding priorities for grants in this category were social determinants of health, transportation, and employment. —The grantees, the specific award amounts, and the programs supported included Camp Freedom, LLC (Carbondale, Wayne County) — $40,000 to provide disabled veterans all-inclusive hunting experiences PA Senate committee advances bill to increase pensions for disabled veterans The Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee has unanimously approved legislation to increase the monthly pension amounts for Pennsylvania's Blind Veterans Pension Program and the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program. Senate Bill 534, reintroduced by Sen. Judy Ward (R-30) and Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37), would raise the monthly pension payments from $150 to $180 for veterans who suffered service-connected injuries resulting in blindness, paralysis or the loss of two or more extremities. Under current law, eligible Pennsylvania veterans receive $150 per month through these programs. The last increase occurred in 1999. If enacted, this legislation would provide much-needed financial relief to nearly 2,500 veterans across the commonwealth. As of Nov. 30, 2024, the Blind Veterans Pension Program benefits 98 individuals, while the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program serves 2,345 individuals. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Reading Hospital hosts discussion on reducing gun violence
Sitting inside a conference room at Reading Hospital, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said every Pennsylvanian deserves to be safe and feel safe in their communities. But the simple fact is gun violence is a serious and growing problem across the nation, the state and Berks County. And that's why Davis visited the West Reading hospital on Monday. The lieutenant governor led a roundtable discussion with local leaders aimed at finding ways to stem the tide and reduce gun violence. 'It's really important to recognize that gun violence is something we can and we must do something about here in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,' he said. 'We are here to highlight some of the successes you have made to reduce the number of homicides in Berks County, but I also know that one act of gun violence is one too many. We've been making progress on the issue, but there is still much more work to be done.' Davis, who leads the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, said Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration is taking a comprehensive approach to tackling the issue. That means partnering with lawmakers to support law enforcement and invest in community organizations working on the ground to help survivors heal from trauma. 'All of this is about creating ladders of opportunities for folks to succeed,' he said. It also means making sure those on the front lines of the fight against violence have the resources they need. Davis said the current state budget allocates $45 million through Violence Intervention and Prevention grants to support programs that work to curb violence. The governor is advocating for an additional $10 million for grants in budget negotiations. 'We know these programs work and we need to get them into more communities, which is why we need to increase our investment,' he said. Reading Hospital is a recipient of one of those grants, getting $622,649 to expand its violence recovery program. It will provide resources to prevent gun violence and community education. Anthony Martin, trauma program manager at Reading Hospital, said the funds will be used to hire and train a trauma violence recovery specialist to provide support and referral services to hospitalized victims of violence. It will also help cover costs to operate the program and fund support staff in violence intervention education. The violence recovery program, which was launched in 2004, provides targeted services to survivors and works to reduce risk factors such as substance misuse and unemployment while promoting protective factors such as social support and educational attainment. 'It's all about breaking that cycle of violence,' Martin said. 'So we look at how we might be able to address some immediate needs and then build on that to make lasting changes through workforce development or relocation services.' Lt. Gov. Austin Davis talks about gun violence prevention along with state Sen. Judy Schwank, left, and state Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz during a roundtable discussion at Reading Hospital about gun violence prevention on Monday, March 3, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) The violence recovery program is, unfortunately, desperately needed as incidents of gun violence continue to increase in Berks. 'In terms of gun violence this last year, once every three days someone came in with a gunshot wound,' said Dr. Brian Lahmann, chair of the department of emergency medicine for Tower Health. 'And that was a dramatic increase from the year before.' Lahmann said gunshot victims reach across all demographics. For instance, he noted there were three children under the age of 10 who were admitted in the past month. Dr. Brian Lahmann, left, chair of the department of emergency medicine at Reading Hospital, and Dr. Eugene Reilly, vice president and chief medical information officer at Tower Health, participate in a roundtable discussion at Reading Hospital about gun violence prevention on Monday, March 3, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) 'I think the two biggest pieces to prevention are decreasing access to these complex firearms and educating those who own guns about how to properly use them,' he said. Dr. Eugene Reilly, chief medical information officer for Tower Health, agreed. 'We are talking about violence recovery, but even better would be if it never happened in the first place,' he said. 'And I think it's important to hammer home again and again that you are more likely to die from your own gun than someone else's. 'This concept of this maligned stranger coming into your life and that you need to be protected from that entity has really captured the imagination of a lot of people. But that's not really what we see. What we really see is people who are lawful gun owners that have fits of passion or poor judgment.' Those fits of passion and poor judgment often turn into incidents of domestic abuse, which has an undeniable link to gun violence, Safe Berks CEO Beth Garrigan told the lieutenant governor. Anthony Martin, trauma program manager at Reading Hospital, and Beth Garrigan CEO of Safe Berks, participate in a roundtable discussion at Reading Hospital about gun violence prevention on Monday, March 3, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) 'In many cases it's someone that you love who is using their gun,' she said. 'In 2024, there were 104 people killed by domestic violence in Pennsylvania and in 65% of those deaths firearms were used. So it's a very big problem.' Garrigan said that even when a gun is not used to kill, it is often used to threaten and intimidate. Legislative solutions Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams shared with Austin that the county has three task forces focused on getting illegal guns off the streets, and he believes it is having a real impact on the community. He noted the county saw a dramatic decline in the number of homicides committed last year compared with the number committed over the last several years. There were 12 in the county — eight of those taking place in Reading. Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams participates in a roundtable discussion at Reading Hospital about gun violence prevention on Monday, March 3, 2025. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) But, he added, there is more work to be done. When asked by Davis what changes to legislation he would like to see to address gun violence, Adams said there are three laws he would like to see enacted. The first would make possession of 'glock switches' a felony. These devices are used to modify handguns to shoot like machine guns, which amplify the impact of gun violence. The second would increase penalties for gun owners who fail to report a stolen firearm. And he would like to see funding allocated for the creation of youth detention centers. He noted that Berks is in the process of partnering with Dauphin and Lehigh counties to reopen and operate the former youth detention center in Bern Township, which closed its doors in 2012. 'Many counties in the state do not have a place to put these juveniles who commit gun offenses,' he said. 'This is a problem that needs to be addressed now because so much of the gun violence we see is being committed by young people.' State Sen. Judy Schwank said that during her time in office she has worked with colleagues to advance legislation that can reduce gun violence. The Wyomissing Democrat said more can be done but pointed to one specific source of pride — a bill that took firearms away from individuals who have a protection-from-abuse order against them. 'One of the messages that we have to get out is that it's not about taking away the firearms you are using for legitimate purposes, it's about keeping everybody safe,' she said. State Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz said it's going to take everyone in the community to address gun violence. The Reading Democrat said there needs to be a return to a time when neighbors looked out for neighbors and kids were afraid to do something wrong because they knew the adults in their neighborhood would 'snitch on them.' 'This is going to take everyone — from those who are hanging out on the block to the bodega owners to the business owners to the church leaders,' she said. 'It's going to have to be each one looking out for our young people as a collective.' Reach out If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, contact the 24-hour Safe Berks hotline at 844-789-SAFE (7233) or text SAFE BERKS to 20121.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Yahoo
Raising awareness on human trafficking
WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Human trafficking can happen anywhere, and anyone can fall victim. That is why officials are collaborating to combat the crime in Luzerne County. NEPA is no stranger to trafficking. Experts say the close proximity and access to New York and other cities makes the area a hotspot. 'I figured if I could stand up and speak for those that can't, or won't or, just don't have the strength to that I can make a difference,' said Anastasia Joy, survivor/advocate. DHS will send text alerts about SNAP benefits fraud Joy was trafficked in the Poconos when she was just eighteen years old. Now, she is an advocate for others. She shared her story at the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's roundtable discussion at the Victim's Resource Center. There, Joy joined state leaders, local officials, and victim advocates to discuss how to recognize the signs of human trafficking and strengthen efforts to stop the ongoing epidemic. The crime involves coercing a person into labor or commercial sex. 'It's been glorified in movies, it's been glorified in music videos in rap songs, and at the end of the day it happens in our own backyards in small cities,' said Joy. Joy says there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding victims of human trafficking. She explains a large portion of victims are groomed, and often know their perpetrators before the trafficking takes place. Joy wants to see more education in schools to stop the problem and more resources for victims. 'Creating organizations a safe place to go, work, and just helping them build their life back up I think is so important,' said Joy. At the state level, officials say stopping the issue starts with stopping the demand. 'We need to make the penalties more severe for people buying sex but we also need to charge more people with buying sex,' said Heather Castellino, Chief Deputy Attorney General Human Trafficking, PA Attn Gen. Office. Leaders note that collaboration and conversation are the first steps to change. 'We're all in the same room we can coordinate our services coordinate our response,' said Suzanne Beck, co-chair, NEPA Task Force Against Human Trafficking/CEO VRC. 'Everyone here had something to add and I think together we can create a really powerful team to really fight this crime,' said Joy. For resources on human trafficking, visit the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
