Kirsten E. Kenyon

The Commission meeting covered a wide range of administrative and financial topics, including updates on federal funding conditions for victim service providers, the 2026-2030 Strategic Framework, and state budget investments in public safety programs. Key actions included the approval of various grant applications, such as federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds, Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) continuations, State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) funds, State Opioid Response Grant funds, and funding for children's advocacy centers and county adult probation and parole initiatives. Additionally, the commission approved augmentations to First Chance Trust Fund programs and revised policies for the First Chance Trust Fund and the Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Education and Training Board.

The 2025 Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Plan, developed by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, outlines strategic priorities to improve the state's juvenile justice system. It reaffirms the principles of Balanced and Restorative Justice, emphasizing community protection, victim restoration, and youth redemption, and prioritizes the inclusion of youth voices. Key focus areas include addressing youth gun involvement and mental health needs, enhancing system capacity, championing prevention programs, advancing equitable system reforms, and strengthening cross-system collaboration for comprehensive youth support.

This document provides an overview of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency's (PCCD) programs and investments, aligning with its mission and strategic priorities. It aggregates data from 2024-2025 surveys and grants related to school mental health and safety. Key areas of focus include preventing gun violence, victim services, school safety and mental health, criminal and juvenile justice system improvements, and youth-focused prevention. The document presents data on school safety assessments, threat assessment teams, behavioral health staffing, student assistance programs, multi-tiered systems of support, trauma-informed approaches, and restorative practices, along with school mental health funding allocations from 2022-2025.

The meeting featured several significant discussions and action items. The Chairman reported on convening the first meeting of the PA Office of Gun Violence Prevention Executive Committee and provided updates on the Philadelphia Healing & Hope Center Pilot, which aims to provide trauma-informed care using federal Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program funds. An update was also given regarding a $4 million Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Grant from the DOJ to expand hospital-based violence intervention programs, with upcoming competitive solicitations planned. The Executive Director reported on the ongoing lack of a state budget, monitoring of new federal grant conditions from the DOJ, and progress on PCCD's five-year strategic planning document. The Auditor General's findings on several trust funds were reported as having no fiscal irregularities, though feedback on the grant review process is being considered. Action items from the Victims' Services Advisory Committee included the recommendation to approve numerous applications totaling nearly $54 million in Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds, as well as approvals for continuation applications and grants from SASP and VAWA funds. The Criminal Justice Advisory Committee presented two action items: approval for Project Safe Neighborhoods Middle District funds for York County Commissioners and support for the Philadelphia Gun Violence Reduction Coordinator salary. The Indigent Defense Advisory Committee received approval for its Essential Components of Effective Representation standard to be transmitted to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The meeting featured several key discussions and action items. A presentation by NORC at the University of Chicago detailed the initial findings and recommendations from the Violence Intervention & Prevention (VIP) Grants Evaluation Initiative survey, noting a finalized report is expected in November. The Committee then adopted a motion to augment and extend the WestEd/LISC contract for VIP Technical Assistance (TA) services through December 31, 2025. Following this, the Committee adopted the FY 2025 VIP Technical Assistance Initiative funding framework. The revised Act 55 School Safety and Security Coordinator Training Standards were also adopted after being presented as an informational update. An informational update was provided on the K-12 Threat Assessment Training and Technical Assistance Project, including plans for transitioning support as federal funding concludes. The Executive Committee reported on discussions, including SB 930. General Updates covered the status of various School Safety & Mental Health Grants, reporting high award rates for FY 24-25 applications for both general and nonpublic school grants, and updates on School Security Personnel Waivers. Finally, updates detailed the usage metrics for Act 55 online training modules and the introduction of asynchronous online training options for Act 67 School Security Personnel Training.