PCCD Announces Funding to Support Victims of Crime, Advocacy Efforts

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Victims of crime, including older adults, will receive assistance, counseling and other life-sustaining services, following approval of federal and state grants by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The grants awarded include:

• Victim service providers in 54 counties will receive nearly $32 million in federal funds from the Victims of Crime Act. The money, derived from fines and penalties on offenders at the federal level, provide financial support to victim assistance programs.
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving-PA State Offices will receive $94,000 in federal funds to provide direct services to DUI victims, including victim compensation assistance, counseling, information and referrals to community agencies.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections will receive approximately $47,000 in federal funds to support the Volunteer Mediation Project with the Office of Victim Advocate. This program provides an opportunity for victims of crime to participate in the mediation process to possibly meet and/or correspond with their offender (if the offender is held in the state corrections system).
• The Address Confidentiality Program will receive $59,000 in state funds. The program provides a substitute mailing address for victims who have moved to a new location unknown to their perpetrator and also provides participants with free and confidential mail-forwarding services.
• A total of $205,000 in federal funds was approved to provide training and advocacy to elder abuse victims and support elder victim advocate projects statewide, including regional seminars.

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is the state's lead agency for criminal justice policy issues, providing support service to law enforcement agencies, victims of crime and communities.  

For more information, visit www.pccd.state.pa.us  or call 717-705-0888.

Media contact: Tara Mead, 717-265-8470

Editor's Note: For detailed information on these grants, please click on the following links:

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1086272/victim_services_grants_pdf (Victims' Services grant information)

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1086271/senior_citizen_grants_awarded_pdf (Senior citizen-related grants)

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/document/1087740/voca_funds_pdf (VOCA fund distribution)

SOURCE Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency