Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Streamlines Process for Victims of C...

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) announced two new initiatives aimed at streamlining the Victim Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) and accelerating financial support for victims of crime. These initiatives include enhanced collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) to improve the turnaround time for obtaining police reports and an online filing option for compensation claims.

VCAP is a critical financial lifeline for crime victims and their families across the Commonwealth. The program provides coverage for costs associated with victimization, including relocation, counseling, crime scene clean-up, medical expenses, funeral costs, and more. Each year, VCAP receives an average of 12,000 claims for eligible expenses and over the past five years, PCCD has paid more than 76,000 VCAP claims totaling $65 million in eligible expenses for citizens across all 67 Pennsylvania counties.

"Every step we take to simplify and speed up our processes is a step toward better supporting victims who have already endured so much," said Mike Pennington, PCCD Executive Director. "By making it easier for individuals to access financial help and streamlining the process on the backend, victims of crime and their families can more readily begin the healing and recovery process. These changes are about more than just efficiency-they're about making a real difference in the lives of Pennsylvanians who need it most."

The Shapiro-Davis Administration is committed to supporting victims and survivors of crime. Earlier this year, PCCD Chair, Lt. Governor Austin Davis, and other PCCD officials joined victim services professionals, survivors, and advocates in Harrisburg and Berks County to highlight the importance of investing in VCAP and supporting victims and their families. The Shapiro-Davis Administration secured $5 million in the 2024-25 state budget to ensure continued assistance for those impacted by violence and crime across Pennsylvania.

Additionally, at the direction of the Lt. Governor, PCCD began work on its Resources for Victims of Gun Violence initiative, to identify existing resources and address gaps to better support survivors, families, and caregivers in Pennsylvania affected by gun violence.

Enhancing Police Reports Turnaround Time

PCCD recently collaborated with PSP to streamline the process of receiving police reports, an important component in processing claims. In May 2024, a new collection database was created, allowing PCCD staff to directly request police reports and enabling PSP to upload them promptly into the database. This streamlined process has drastically reduced the turnaround time, with VCAP now receiving police reports within days instead of months. This enhancement has resulted in quicker access to essential documentation, accelerating the delivery of support to victims of crime.

"The PSP recognizes the multifaceted impact of criminal acts on victims, so in our pursuit of justice, we must ensure victims receive timely compensation to recover their health, security, and dignity," said Colonel Christopher Paris, Commissioner of PSP. "I am thankful we were able to expedite this process because no barrier should stand between a victim and their path to healing."

Accepting VCAP Claims Online

Since 2021, PCCD has worked to modernize VCAP's previous paper-based administration process to a fully electronic process, while still providing victims with the option to choose paper notifications if they prefer. This initiative began following challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and has now reached its final phase of implementation.

The VCAP Paperless Project has introduced a centralized case management system that allows victims, service programs, and allied professionals-including therapists, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies-to upload necessary documents through the Dependable Access for Victims' Expenses (DAVE) online claim filing system. This streamlined approach significantly improves efficiency, reducing processing times and administrative burdens. The final phase, which launched in August, includes a new opt-in feature which enable victims and service programs to receive real-time updates on their claims, providing greater transparency and timely information throughout the claims process.

With the completion of this project, Pennsylvania joins a handful of other states across the country with electronic, paperless processes for victim's compensation programs.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by violence or crime, contact PCCD or your local victim service program to see if you may be eligible for financial compensation.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ali Gantz - [email protected]

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