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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone |
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Caltagirone: Help for victims of crimes committed by juveniles
HARRISBURG, July 16 – House Judiciary Committee Democratic Chairman Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks, announced the approval of $43,290 in state funding for Berks County through the Victims of Juvenile Offenders grant program.
Caltagirone said the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, of which he serves as a board member, will administer the funding.
"I am pleased to say this funding stream was a priority in the recently passed state budget," Caltagirone said. "This will go a long way across the entire state in helping victims of crimes committed by juveniles."
Under the program, grants are customarily allocated to support the salaries and benefits of those providing procedural services to victims of juvenile offenders.
"We're talking about court proceedings information, explaining to victims what their rights are and physically going with the victim to court," Caltagirone said.
Caltagirone added grants are awarded based on a formula regarding the county's population, juvenile dispositions and penalty assessment collections.
The commission was formed in 1978 and founded on the core values of commitment, dedication, respect, integrity, optimism and teamwork. Its mission is to improve the quality of criminal and juvenile justice systems in Pennsylvania and help communities to both create and implement plans to reduce crime and victimization in their neighborhoods.
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