At the March 2019 Commission meeting, PCCD Research Consultant Dr. Robert Orth presented a comprehensive report on Pennsylvania's crime trends. The report, which was paid for through a grant by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, is a compilation of criminal justice statistics presented in an infographic format. Download the PA Crime Trends 2012-2016 Report (PDF).
In June 2023, SAC research staff prepared a Crime in Pennsylvania: Offense Statistics & Trends Over 10 Years (2013-2022) infographic using publicly available criminal offense data sourced from the PA State Police’s Uniform Crime Reporting system. The report indicates that the total number of criminal offenses reported by law enforcement has declined 24.3% over the past decade, but notes that Part 1 Offenses (e.g., violent offenses) have risen by 18% from 2020 to 2022. The offenses of murder/manslaughter have increased 76.9% from 2013 to 2022; motor vehicle thefts have increased 54.9%; and possession/carrying a weapon have increased 83%. Burglary, robberies, arson, drug sale and manufacturing, DUIs, vandalism, and drug possession have all decreased during this same time period. Download the Crime in Pennsylvania: Offense Statistics & Trends Over 10 Years (2013-2022)(PDF).
Since 1989, the Commonwealth has conducted the Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) of school students in the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades to learn about their behavior, attitudes and knowledge concerning alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence. The data gathered in PAYS serve two primary needs. First, the results provide school administrators, state agency directors, legislators and others with critical information concerning the changes in patterns of the use and abuse of these harmful substances and behaviors. Second, the survey assesses risk factors that are related to these behaviors and the protective factors that help guard against them. This information allows community leaders to direct prevention resources to areas where they are likely to have the greatest impact. For all PAYS data and further information, click HERE.
The County Adult Probation and Parole Advisory Committee (CAPPAC), established in 2019 and housed at PCCD, serves in an advisory capacity to the Commission on matters related to county adult probation and parole. One important aspect of the work of the CAPPAC is to analyze data to identify trends related to county supervision. The reports below detail the preliminary findings of SAC analysts who studied recidivism among offenders who were supervised at the county level. Click on the links below to review the reports.
County Supervision And Recidivism.pdf
Probation and Recidivism in Pennsylvania.pdf
Violence Intervention and Prevention
Providing support for effective, community-led efforts to prevent gun violence is one of PCCD's top
strategic priorities.
PCCD's gun violence prevention and reduction initiatives include:
- Funding: Supporting adoption and implementation of innovative, evidence-based violence reduction strategies through grants, with a focus on supporting community-driven approaches.
- Technical Assistance & Stakeholder Engagement: Establishing a “Community of Practice” and information sharing network to spread promising practices and directly engage communities.
- Data and Research: Collect, collate, and analyze available data and research to evaluate outcomes and make adjustments to strategy as needed.
To find a map of Gun Violence and Violence Intervention and Prevention grantees and their service areas, click
here.
Gun Violence Investigation and Prosecution Grant Program
Act 54 of 2022 established the
Gun Violence Investigation & Prosecution Grant Program (GVIP) within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). Act 54 directed PCCD to administer $50 million in federal COVID Relief - American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding as grants to support the investigation and prosecution of violations of 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to firearms and other dangerous articles) and crimes of violence as defined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9714(g) (relating to sentences for second and subsequent offenses) where a firearm or a replica of a firearm, as defined in 42 Pa.C.S. § 9712(e) (relating to sentences for offenses committed with firearms), was used in the commission of the crime.
In January of 2023, PCCD awarded 29 GVIP grants to support this initiative.
Coming soon! For a dashboard showing the location of funded projects and statistics related to crimes charged under 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to firearms and other dangerous articles) – click here.
For a report detailing the costs of non-fatal firearm injuries in Pennsylvania from 2016-2021, click
here (PDF).
The Pennsylvania legislature occasionally directs the formation of unique committees or task forces to investigate particular issues. In recent years the legislation has directed PCCD to host the Task Force on Child Pornography and the Judicial Computer System Financial Audit Committee.
Task Force on Child Pornography
The Task Force on Child Pornography (TFCP or “task force”) was established by Act 53 of 2021, which became law on June 30, 2021 and took effect on August 30, 2021. Staffed jointly by PCCD and members of the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC), the Task Force was composed of a 20-members appointed by the General Assembly and the Governor, as well as several members appointed by virtue of their position.
Per the statute, the TFCP was given one year from its first meeting to “conduct a review to ascertain any inadequacies relating to the offense of child pornography in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6312” and develop any recommendations for any improvements relating to the investigation and prosecution of child pornography and suggest any necessary changes in state statutes, policies and procedures relating to the recognition or prosecution of child pornography. The final report was adopted by the Task Force during the September 28, 2022 meeting.
Judicial Computer System Financial Audit Committee
The Judicial Computer System Financial Audit Committee (JCSFAC) was established within PCCD by Act 70 of 2021. Becoming law on July 9, 2021, the provisions pertaining to the JCSFAC took effect on September 7, 2021.
The JCSFAC was a 13-member body consisting of both voting members appointed by General Assembly leadership and the Judiciary and nonvoting advisory members appointed by virtue of their position. The Committee was directed to review the current status of the Judicial Computer System Augmentation Account (JCSAA) which supports the operation and maintenance of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts' (AOPC) Judicial Computer System (JCS) established under
42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 37 Subchapter C (relating to Judicial Computer System).
Specifically, the JCSFAC was tasked with:
- Requesting information from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts necessary to fulfill the Committee's duties;
- Reviewing the policy goals, purpose and programs of the system, including, but not limited to, the provision of Statewide case management systems for magisterial, common pleas and appellate courts and other critical functions, the system's impact on the implementation of statutory enactments and the collection of fines, fees and costs payable to the Commonwealth, counties and municipal corporations;
- Assessing the annual financial needs and revenue streams that support the continuous and uninterrupted operation of the system, including disaster recovery;
- Evaluating the annual revenues and expenditures within the system and the amount of any annual surpluses;
- Submitting legislative recommendations related to the reallocation of undedicated surpluses; and
- By January 31, 2022, submitting a report of its findings to the chair and minority chair of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chair and minority chair of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, the chair and minority chair of the Judiciary Committee of the Senate and the chair and minority chair of the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives.
The JCSFAC first met on October 27, 2021, where Representative Torren Ecker was elected by the voting members to serve as Chair. A series of meetings was convened throughout the months of November and December 2021, with extensive written testimony provided by the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) and JCS users. Throughout the process, AOPC provided financial information at the request of the committee, which was used as the basis of this report.
PCCD provided staff support to the JCSFAC to coordinate the meetings and assist in the drafting of the final report, which was adopted by the Committee on January 27, 2022 and submitted to the General Assembly on January 31, 2022 (attached below).
Cost of Non-Fatal Firearm Injuries in Pennsylvania
For a report detailing the costs of non-fatal firearm injuries in Pennsylvania from 2016-2021, click
here (PDF).