PRINTER'S NO. 1364
No. 92 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY RITTER, HAGARTY, BLAUM, JAROLIN, JADLOWIEC, TRICH,
JOSEPHS, PICCOLA, KOSINSKI, VEON, DeWEESE, RUDY, HAYDEN,
STURLA, CAPPABIANCA, LAUGHLIN, CORRIGAN, DeLUCA, MELIO,
MUNDY, PESCI, ITKIN, ROEBUCK, NAHILL, HUGHES, TANGRETTI,
FARMER, HERMAN, SCRIMENTI, LUCYK, PERZEL, GODSHALL, BELARDI,
E. Z. TAYLOR, D. W. SNYDER, ARGALL, HALUSKA, BUNT, GIGLIOTTI,
FREEMAN, PISTELLA, SEMMEL, FOX, CIVERA, HANNA, TELEK, CAWLEY,
SALOOM, BATTISTO, RICHARDSON, TRELLO, STEELMAN, COWELL,
ANGSTADT, STETLER, HARPER AND THOMAS, APRIL 17, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 17, 1991
A RESOLUTION
1 Urging the Pennsylvania State Police to make an annual report to
2 the General Assembly on family and sexual violence in this
3 Commonwealth.
4 WHEREAS, An estimated 800,000 Pennsylvania families
5 experience domestic violence yearly; and
6 WHEREAS, In 1980-1981 there were 11,328 victims served by
7 Pennsylvania domestic violence programs, and in 1989, 70,207
8 victims received assistance; and
9 WHEREAS, In 1973 a police study showed that the police had
10 been to the home at least once prior to a homicide in 90% of the
11 family violence homicide cases. It also showed that the police
12 had been to the home five or more times in 50% of these cases;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, In 1989, the average number of police calls prior to
15 all family homicides was eight. There are 20,000 people murdered
1 in this country every year. There are 4,000 killed by someone
2 they live with; and
3 WHEREAS, The first or second most frequent call for police
4 officers are family violence calls consisting of 10% to 15% of
5 all calls; and
6 WHEREAS, The number one myth is that family violence occurs
7 only in poor families with drug abuse problems. There is only a
8 3% difference between battering reported in low-income
9 relationships and relationships with incomes over $25,000; and
10 WHEREAS, At least one million women, children and men will be
11 the victims of sexual violence in the course of their lifetime;
12 therefore be it
13 RESOLVED, That the Pennsylvania State Police be urged to make
14 an annual report to the General Assembly on domestic violence.
15 The report should include specific information on the incidence
16 of reports and arrest rates for domestic violence and sexual
17 violence to the extent that such information is available; and
18 be it further
19 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
20 the Governor, the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police
21 and to the presiding officers of each house of the General
22 Assembly.
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