Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to restore the cuts to witness relocation programs and the State-Local Firearms Task Force and to adequately fund these vital programs which assure the safety of all residents of the Commonwealth and preserve the rule of justice in our criminal courts.

WHEREAS, The proposed State budget for fiscal year 2010-11 continues to cut funds to witness relocation funds and the State-Local Firearms Task Force, totaling over $2 million since 2008-09; and

WHEREAS, Since witness intimidation pervades the Philadelphia courts, according to a December 19, 2009 article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, witness relocation is essential to public safety and the administration of justice; and

WHEREAS, The Witness Relocation Program is funded by the State Office of the Attorney General and administered by Philadelphia's Office of the District Attorney. The funds, statewide have been cut from $1 million to approximately $850,000. Philadelphia receives ¾ of these funds. All state funds allocated to Philadelphia's Witness Relocation Program go directly to the families. The DA's office pays for the related administrative costs; and

WHEREAS, 60 to 80 families are relocated as part of the City witness relocation program each year. The program provides up to 120 days of assistance in the following areas: security deposits, moving costs, storage fees and temporary housing and can easily spend over ten thousand dollars per family for the four months; and

WHEREAS, The District Attorney's Gun Violence Task Force, also funded through the State has been cut over $2 million since the 2008-09 budget at a time when 80% of all Philadelphia homicides are committed with a gun; now therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly to restore the cuts to witness relocation programs and the State-Local Firearms Task Force and to adequately fund these vital programs which assure the safety of all residents of the Commonwealth and preserve the rule of justice in our criminal courts.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Edward G. Rendell, the State Attorney General and the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations as evidence of the grave concern of this legislative body.

End