Crime survivors across the country applauded today as the Senate passed the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act (“VOCA Fix Act”). With a vote of 100-0, this bipartisan legislation stabilizes the Crime Victims Fund and prevents ongoing, catastrophic cuts to programs that provide services and direct funding to victims. The victory comes after advocacy from the Alliance for Safety and Justice’s Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice network of more than 57,000 crime survivors nationwide, along with other organizations.

Americans living with old criminal records and public safety experts applauded a U.S. House Committee for supporting a $100 million investment in state-level record clearance, while urging the full House to include it in the final appropriations bill.

In a victory for crime survivors across Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine approved the two-year state operating budget, which included a historic investment in programs that aim to end cycles of crime and make communities safer.

The Arizona Senate today passed Senate Bill 1294, a groundbreaking bill that establishes a record sealing process for those with old legal records, allowing people to become productive members of their communities and improving public safety throughout the state.

This week, lawmakers were joined by crime victims to introduce the Safer Pennsylvania Act, a package of public safety reforms that increase support for crime victims and prioritize rehabilitation to reduce recidivism and stop cycles of crime. The Safer Pennsylvania Act was developed by Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington) in collaboration with the Pennsylvania chapter of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice – a national network of over 42,000 crime survivors focused on elevating victim voices in public safety policy. 

Crime survivors in Texas applauded today as Governor Greg Abbott signed two landmark public safety bills, Senate Bill (SB) 957 and House Bill (HB) 385, promising to improve outcomes for crime survivors and increase community safety across the state.

The Texas Legislature today passed critical reforms to the state’s victim compensation program, expanding access to the program in a victory for crime survivors and advocates. SB 957 – authored by Senator Judith Zaffirini and sponsored by Rep Krause – passed the Texas House of Representatives with bipartisan support and will reduce barriers to access so that more crime victims can receive assistance through the comprehensive program.

Crime survivors and criminal justice advocates today applauded the Texas Senate’s passage of HB 385 in a bipartisan vote. The bill, which already passed the Texas House of Representatives unanimously, would reform the state’s probation system, ensuring that Texans on probation are able to focus on rehabilitation to reduce recidivism, while creating safer communities and saving taxpayer money.

The Texas House of Representatives today passed groundbreaking reforms to the state’s probation system, which aims to improve public safety and reduce costs. House Bill 385 (Rep. Pacheco – San Antonio), which passed with bipartisan support, will ensure that those on probation focus on rehabilitation, rather than arbitrary conditions, to effectively reduce recidivism and end the cycle of crime in communities throughout the state.

“For too long, the people most harmed by violence have also been the least helped,” said Aswad Thomas, gun violence survivor and national director of the 46,000-member Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. “The National Crime Victims Agenda offers policymakers a clear plan to address the needs of all crime survivors and finally end the cycle of crime. Lawmakers should read this plan carefully, and finally listen to the survivors who’ve been historically left out of the public safety conversation.”