Action for Safety and Justice

Action for Safety and Justice celebrated five legislative and budget wins in 2022, despite the re-emergence of tough on crime narratives in statehouses and the media.In Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey signed HB 2604 , expanding time periods for official and emergency orders of protection, which will help make survivors safer in the aftermath of a crime and stop cycles of trauma. Gov. Ducey also signed HB 2594, which will establish criteria for Trauma Recovery Centers in Arizona. And, thanks to our advocacy, the state gave $2 million in recurring funds and $10 million in one-time American Rescue Plan funds appropriations to the victim's compensation program.In Pennsylvania, we scored our first legislative victory in Pennsylvania with the signing of HB 2464 and HB 2032, two bills introduced as a part of the Safer Pennsylvania Act, which we introduced in 2021. HB 2464 expands access to the states victim compensation program, eliminating the 72-hour time limit for reporting a crime to authorities to qualify for compensation, making sure no survivor is ever denied help with counseling or funeral expenses based on allegations about the victims behavior, and extending the time limit to file for compensation from two to five years. HB 2032 protects victims privacy by providing exceptions to the mandatory reporting of identifying information in sexual assault investigations and directs the Pennsylvania State Police to study how to create and implement a more accessible rape kit tracking system.