Crime survivors praised the committee passage of HB 2032, which strengthens sexual assault victims' privacy when their cases are being investigated

Harrisburg – The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to advance HB 2032 – a key part of the Safer Pennsylvania Act – which ensures that there are exceptions to the mandatory reporting of identifying information while investigating sexual assault cases, allowing victims to protect their privacy as they seek healthcare and evidence is collected in their case. The bill also directs the Pennsylvania State Police – in consultation with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape – to study how to create and implement a rape kit tracking system that would be accessible to survivors. HB 2032 is sponsored by Representative Meghan Schroeder (R-Bucks) and passed the House in a bipartisan vote earlier this month. The Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ) released the following statement from Alexandra Abboud, local crime survivor and Pennsylvania state manager for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice:

“The physical and emotional trauma that results from victimization can at times seem insurmountable. The impact of violence can ripple across a survivor's life, affecting their jobs, homes, families, and livelihoods. It is in these vulnerable moments when survivors need the most support to fully heal from violence.

HB 2032 will ensure that sexual assault victims are empowered, protected, and in control of their own recovery. This prevents the compounding of trauma and sets them on a road to recovery.

We thank Representative Schroeder for standing with Pennsylvania survivors, and we commend the Senate Judiciary Committee for their support. We urge the legislature to build on these essential reforms by passing the companion bills in the Safer Pennsylvania Act, so we can further reduce trauma and make communities safer for everyone.”

The full text of the bill can be read here. About the Alliance for Safety and Justice The Alliance for Safety and Justice is a national organization that aims to win evidence-based new safety priorities in states across the country. It also brings together diverse crime survivors to advance policies that help communities most harmed by crime and violence, as part of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice – its national network of over 90,000 crime survivors with thousands of members in Pennsylvania. For more information, visit: https://allianceforsafetyandjustice.org or https://cssj.org.

###