WHEREAS, The Statewide Automated Victim Information and
Notification (SAVIN) program provided more than 2.8 million free
updates on perpetrators' custody status in the 2017-2018 fiscal
year; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania crime victims, including victims of
domestic violence and sexual abuse, should be afforded every
opportunity to continue to live peacefully following their
exposure to crime and should be offered timely notice of an
offender's release, escape or transfer from a correctional
facility; and
WHEREAS, The rights extended to victims of crime in the Crime
Victims Act are to be honored and protected by law enforcement
agencies, prosecutors and judges in a manner no less vigorous
than the protections afforded criminal defendants; and
WHEREAS, Victims, witnesses, advocates, policymakers, prison
administrators, wardens, law enforcement officials, prosecutors,
judges and business and industry representatives use the SAVIN
program and have a right to know about a proposed shift in its
operations; and
WHEREAS, Those individuals have a right to question whether
changes in the SAVIN program will continue to ensure timely and
seamless access to notification of offender release or transfer
and access to a call center staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year, with employees trained in victim sensitivity; and
WHEREAS, Those observers believe that an operational shift in
the SAVIN program merits an investigation to determine if
Pennsylvania is appropriately affording victims the crucial
services they are owed; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the
Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study of
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