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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 8, 2014 12:35 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Michelle F. Brownlee |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Victims’ Restitution Database |
Imminently, I will introduce legislation that would amend the Crime Victims Act to provide for the establishment and maintenance of a victims’ restitution database by the Office of Victims’ Services. As you may know, the Office of Victim Advocate convened The Restitution in Pennsylvania Task Force in 2011 with the express purpose of studying the restitution process in the Commonwealth and making recommendations intended to improve restitution services at both the state and local levels. The Restitution Task Force issued its final report, with a series of recommendations, in February. Consequently, my legislative proposal would enact Task Force Recommendation 24, which called for the creation of a “web-based system for victims/survivors to update their personal information related to their restitution orders.” Under my legislative proposal, the Office of Victims’ Services would be tasked with developing and maintaining a Victims’ Restitution Database (victims’ database). The Office of Victims’ Services would be directed to develop the victims’ database in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and the Board of Probation and Parole. As provided in the proposal, the victims’ database would be configured in a manner to enable victims or the family of a victim, as approved by the Office of Victims’ Services, to update and ensure the accuracy of their personal contact information, which would make it easier for victims to comply with their responsibilities under the Crime Victims Act. Furthermore, the victims’ database would be programmed to provide victims with information about the status of their restitution orders and payments, and an electronic format for the Office of Victims’ Services to review the status of compensation claims, payments, and awards to victims. A victim would use a personal pin and password unique to him or her to access the database. As provided in the legislation, the personal information related to a victim, and any offense-related content unique to the crime suffered by a victim or particular to a victim that may be maintained in the victims’ database, would not be subject to the Right-to-Know Law and could not be disclosed to any person other than law enforcement, the Department of Corrections, the local correctional facility or prosecutor’s office without the written consent of the victim. The unlawful disclosure of victim-related information would be a misdemeanor of the third degree. I thank you in advance for joining me as a sponsor of this legislative proposal. However, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (717) 787-3480. |