Bipartisan measure from Briggs, Kerwin to help police solve crimes included in state budget
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus July 14, 2026 | 4:02 PM
HARRISBURG, July 14 – State Reps. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, and Joe Kerwin, R-Dauphin, today announced that key provisions of their bipartisan Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods, to be known as the VICTIM Act, has been signed into law as part of the 2026-27 Fiscal Code.
The Fiscal Code, signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Sunday, establishes a new grant program through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help local law enforcement agencies improve clearance rates for homicides and other violent crimes. The state budget also includes $2.5 million to fund the initiative.
The new program will provide grants to help law enforcement agencies hire and retain detectives and investigators, invest in evidence-analysis technology and other investigative tools, and strengthen support for victims and families impacted by unsolved violent crime.
"Every victim deserves justice, and every family deserves answers," Briggs said. "The VICTIM Act is about giving law enforcement the resources they need to solve more violent crimes, hold offenders accountable and make our communities safer. I'm proud to have worked with Rep. Kerwin on this bipartisan effort, and I'm grateful that these provisions are now law. This investment will help departments across Pennsylvania strengthen investigations, improve public safety and provide hope for families who have waited far too long for justice."
Briggs and Kerwin introduced H.B. 1511 earlier in the session after identifying the need for additional resources to help local police investigate serious crimes. The legislation passed the Pennsylvania House in June 2025 with bipartisan support before its provisions were included in the 2026-27 state budget.
National policy organizations Arnold Ventures and the Niskanen Center also advocated for the legislation. Their support helped build bipartisan momentum for the VICTIM Act and underscored the importance of investing in investigative personnel, technology and other resources to help solve more violent crimes.
“The passage of the VICTIM Act is a significant victory for victims, law enforcement and every community,” Kerwin said. “As a co-sponsor, and former prosecutor, I am proud to support legislation that strengthens victims’ rights, holds offenders accountable, and reinforces our commitment to a safer Pennsylvania. Justice begins by standing with the victims of violent crime.”
Currently, more than one-quarter of homicides in Pennsylvania remain unsolved, while clearance rates for other violent crimes continue to lag. The lawmakers said improving investigative capacity will not only help deliver justice for victims and their loved ones, but also deter future crime by increasing the likelihood that offenders are identified and prosecuted.
The grant program will be administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which will oversee funding for investigative personnel, training, technology and other resources designed to improve violent crime clearance rates throughout the Commonwealth.
Briggs represents the 149th Legislative District, which is comprised of Bridgeport, West Conshohocken, Upper Merion and parts of Lower Merion in Montgomery County.
Kerwin represents the 125 Legislative District, which is comprised of Berrysburg, Dauphin, Elizabethville, Gratz, Halifax Borough, Halifax Township, Jackson, Jefferson, Lower Paxton, Lykens Borough, Lykens Township, Middle Paxton, Mifflin, Millersburg, Pillow, Reed, Rush, Upper Paxton, Washington, Wayne, West Hanover, Wiconisco, Williams and Williamstown Borough in Dauphin County.
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CONTACT: Ryan Bevitz
House Democratic Communications Office
Phone: 717-787-7895
Email: rbevitz@pahouse.net
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