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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 18, 2021 09:04 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Kim L. Ward |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Providing Support to Family Members of Murder Victims |
| I am re-introducing legislation to better support the surviving family members of murder victims as they cope with the sudden and violent loss of their loved one. My bill will amend the Crime Victims Act to enable family members of a murder victim to be reimbursed from the Victims Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP) for earnings or support lost during their attendance at any court proceedings relating to the victim’s death. This would be limited to a parent, child, sibling, custodial grandparent or custodial grandchild of a murder victim. Murder victims are unique among crime victims in that they obviously cannot be present in court for hearings or trials that are held. Their family members become very important in the prosecution of the defendant, particularly during proceedings when victim impact statements are given. Surviving family members must speak in these proceedings for themselves and the deceased victim who no longer has a voice of his or her own to be heard. To do so in person can create a financial burden at a time when the closest loved ones of a victim are carrying a very heavy emotion. This legislation aims to provide some relief by removing the concern of lost wages or support while they are representing the murder victim in the criminal justice system. This bill will also extend reimbursement from the VCAP to siblings, custodial grandparents and custodial grandchildren for lost wages or support due to the murder victim’s funeral. Parents and children of a murder victim can now get compensation for lost wages or support due to attendance at their loved one’s funeral. Unfortunately, the funeral of murder victims are often delayed in comparison to other deaths due to the criminal investigation involved, extending the time between the death and the burial for immediate family members and exceeding the leave policies of many work places. This was Senate Bill 303 of last session. Thank you for your consideration. |