Bill > SB911

This bill establishes the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Program, managed by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (Commission), to provide grants to law enforcement agencies to improve their ability to solve homicides and other violent crimes. The program defines key terms such as "cleared by arrest" (when an offender is arrested and charged) and "cleared by exceptional means" (when an offender is identified and enough evidence exists for arrest, but circumstances prevent it). Grants can be used for hiring and training personnel, acquiring technology for evidence collection and analysis, supporting witnesses, and upgrading record management systems. Grant recipients must report on crime clearance rates, personnel involved in investigations, training, technology, and how grant funds were used. The Commission will evaluate the program's effectiveness, focusing on clearance rates and identifying successful practices and areas for improvement, and will submit these evaluations annually to legislative committees. The bill also specifies that grant funds are supplemental to existing agency funding and that at least 10% of grants must be reserved for agencies serving rural communities.