PRINTER'S NO. 175

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 13 Session of 1993


        INTRODUCED BY RITTER, BLAUM, JAROLIN, JADLOWIEC, TRICH, JOSEPHS,
           PICCOLA, VEON, DeWEESE, RUDY, STURLA, CAPPABIANCA, LAUGHLIN,
           CORRIGAN, DeLUCA, MELIO, MUNDY, PESCI, ITKIN, ROEBUCK,
           HUGHES, TANGRETTI, FARMER, HERMAN, SCRIMENTI, ULIANA, BAKER,
           KENNEY, LaGROTTA, BELFANTI, ROONEY, LEVDANSKY, FICHTER,
           ALLEN, COY, BISHOP, RAYMOND, DENT, DEMPSEY, MAYERNIK,
           GERLACH, CURRY, BOYES, CARONE, HASAY, STABACK, BEBKO-JONES,
           PERZEL, MIHALICH, LUCYK, GODSHALL, BELARDI, E. Z. TAYLOR,
           D. W. SNYDER, ARGALL, HALUSKA, BUNT, GIGLIOTTI, FREEMAN,
           PISTELLA, SEMMEL, CIVERA, HANNA, CAWLEY, BATTISTO,
           RICHARDSON, TRELLO, STEELMAN, COWELL, STETLER, THOMAS AND
           McCALL, FEBRUARY 1, 1993

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, FEBRUARY 1, 1993

                                  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


     1     WHEREAS, In 1989, the average number of police calls prior to
     2  all family homicides was eight. There are 20,000 people murdered
     3  in this country every year. There are 4,000 killed by someone
     4  they live with; and
     5     WHEREAS, The first or second most frequent calls for police
     6  officers are family violence calls consisting of 10% to 15% of
     7  all calls; and
     8     WHEREAS, The number-one myth is that family violence occurs
     9  only in poor families with drug abuse problems. There is only a
    10  3% difference between battering reported in low-income
    11  relationships and relationships with incomes over $25,000; and
    12     WHEREAS, At least one million women, children and men will be
    13  the victims of sexual violence in the course of their lifetime;
    14  therefore be it
    15     RESOLVED, That the Pennsylvania State Police be urged to make
    16  an annual report to the General Assembly on domestic violence.
    17  The report should include specific information on the incidence
    18  of reports and arrest rates for domestic violence and sexual
    19  violence to the extent that such information is available; and
    20  be it further
    21     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
    22  the Governor, the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police
    23  and to the presiding officers of each house of the General
    24  Assembly.




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