A group of women lawmakers from across the commonwealth, led by Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington), formally introduced the Safer Pennsylvania Act on Thursday. The package of public safety reforms would increase support for crime victims, lower barriers to their accessing help after a crime, and prioritize rehabilitation programs proven to reduce recidivism. The package of bills is sponsored by Representatives Mihalek, Shelby Labs (R-Bucks), Wendi Thomas (R-Bucks), Tracy Pennycuick (R-Montgomery), and Meghan Schroeder (R-Bucks), and has widespread support from crime victims and public safety experts.

The Ohio House of Representatives today passed SB 36 in a bipartisan vote, expanding access to the state’s victim compensation program and helping to improve public safety. The legislation – which now goes to the Ohio Senate for concurrence  – was strongly supported by crime victims across the state, including the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) and its Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network in Ohio. ASJ began advocating for these reforms in 2018, and has worked alongside bill sponsor Chair Senator Nathan Manning (R-North Ridgeville) on elevating the needs of victims in this legislation. ASJ has also worked alongside state leaders to establish trauma recovery centers that provide wraparound services to victims of violent crime and prevent re-victimization. 

Americans living with old criminal records and public safety experts applauded the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for clarifying that existing funding for criminal justice data improvements can be used to support state-level record clearance. Now, Congress must complete the appropriations process and pass a full budget by the end of the year.

In a victory for Ohio crime survivors and their families, the Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee voted to approve SB 36 – critical reforms that will reduce barriers to victim compensation and improve safety throughout the state. The bill previously passed the Ohio Senate in a bipartisan vote in March 2021. SB 36 is now headed for a floor vote in the coming weeks. The Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) and its Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network in Ohio began advocating for this legislation more than two years ago, and praised House members for advancing the legislation on behalf of crime victims.

LANSING, MI – Michigan crime victims joined faith leaders, public safety experts, and victim services professionals to testify in support of the Safer Michigan Act’s bills that expand crime victim services (HB 4674-76) at a House Rules and Competitiveness Committee hearing today. Supporters testified about how current state policies are falling short of reaching many crime victims, especially those in the state’s communities that experience the most violence. Their testimony encouraged lawmakers to advance the Safer Michigan Act’s commonsense solutions that ensure crime victims receive the support they need from the state’s victim compensation program, as well as important housing protections to prioritize their safety. 

Michigan crime survivors were joined by some of the state’s largest business groups today in announcing support for bills of the Safer Michigan Act legislative package that prioritizes rehabilitation and workforce development to reduce recidivism, stop cycles of crime, and improve public safety. As a Michigan House of Representative committee held a hearing on the “productivity credits” (HB 4670-4673) components of the legislative package, key public safety experts, including members of law enforcement, were joined by the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, Mackinac Center for Public Policy, West Michigan Policy Forum, and the Grand Rapids Chamber in praising the legislation for helping ensure that people returning from prison successfully reenter society to join the workforce and contribute to the state’s economic recovery. The Safer Michigan Act also includes legislation to increase recovery support for victims of crime, which will be considered at a later hearing.

As Austin communities experiencing the most violence have been further destabilized by the pandemic, more than 150 Austin crime survivors released a letter urging the City Council to allocate funding for a long-awaited trauma recovery center (TRC). The letter, organized by the Texas chapter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a project of Alliance for Safety and Justice, is the latest plea to city and county officials after the much-needed funding was not included in the 2021-2022 city budget.

The Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) applauds the movement of key community violence intervention (CVI) funding through two key United States House of Representatives committees. Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed its provisions of the Build Back Better Act, including $2.5 billion in funding for CVI. The legislation’s subtitle containing CVI funding passed on a vote of 31-27. The House Judiciary Committee also passed budget reconciliation legislation on September 13 containing an additional $2.5 billion in CVI funding on a vote of 25-19.

With the Austin City Council accepting public comments on the city budget this week, the Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) today released a new report on how Texas cities can use American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to address the needs of crime victims and improve public safety. The new report provides analysis to help advocates, lawmakers, and stakeholders as localities begin determinations on how to use the $26 billion allocated to Texas as part of the ARP’s recovery funds. 

With communities across Miami reeling from spikes in violence, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice (CSSJ) and Dream Defenders promoted alternative approaches to improving public safety, serving crime victims, and addressing trauma. The discussion, which featured CSSJ National Director Aswad Thomas and CSSJ co-founder Aqeela Sherrills, focused on two models proven effective at reducing crime while addressing the needs of crime victims – Newark’s violence reduction model and Trauma Recovery Centers.