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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 26, 2021 03:22 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Mario M. Scavello and Sen. Sharif Street |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Invitation to Join the Bipartisan Bicameral Crime Prevention Caucus |
| The primary function of government is to keep communities safe. For years, there has been a gradual increase in a variety of crimes in our Commonwealth further compounded by the pandemic. Over the past decade, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency shows a marked increase in murders, arson, drug abuse, rape, robbery, and violent sex offenses throughout the Commonwealth. The murder rate has increased over 19%, drug abuse violations are up 17.3%, and rape offenses have risen 23.4% since 2009. These crime rates are not isolated to any one county or region of Pennsylvania, and have continued to grow despite decreases in our neighboring states. The spikes in violent crime, suicide, domestic violence, and opioid related deaths nationally and throughout Pennsylvania since the pandemic (March 2020 – 2021), are well known. Our collective effort to turn the tide of this gradual increase is necessary. Funding for Suicide prevention, Trauma informed care, Town Watch groups and community violence interrupters are examples of areas in which we can all find common ground. The Crime Prevention Caucus will be a bipartisan and bicameral body of legislators that will evaluate growing rates of violence across Pennsylvania, bridging the partisan divide to build consensus, learn from our diverse communities to accurately assess their needs and efficiently allocate resources to effectuate a reduction of all forms of violence and promote public safety across the Commonwealth. This caucus is about addressing crime with measures that we can all agree on. Crime affects all people from all walks of life and touches all corners of the Commonwealth. We ask you to join us in this worthy cause. For planning purposes, our first caucus-sponsored event will be held November 5, 2021. More information will be sent out in the near future. If you have an interest in joining the Crime Prevention Caucus, please contact Christine Zubeck, office of Senator Scavello at 717-787-6123 or czubeck@pasen.gov or Desmond McKinson, Office of Senator Street at 215-251-9791 or Desmond.McKinson@pasenate.com . Thank you for your consideration. |