WHEREAS, On October 28, 2021, the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act (H.R. 5768) was introduced; and
WHEREAS, The VICTIM Act provide critical federal funding help local and state police raise their clearance rates for both fatal and non-fatal shooting cases. It is planned to provided $1 Billion in funding over the next 10 years; and
WHEREAS, The bill would create a Department of Justice grant program. The funding from grants would allow for police to focus on hiring detectives and personnel to investigate shootings, and process evidence. Grants would also provide resources for processing evidence, and would also be used for training officers in effective procedures and techniques; and
WHEREAS, The VICTIM Act would also allow for increased reporting and transparency. The
Department of Justice will require all recipients to report information on how grant money was spent and how it affected clearance rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings; and
WHEREAS, The VICTIM has strong support from professional law enforcement researchers and organizations, including the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Major Cities Chiefs Association and the National Police Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Gun violence is a critical public safety concern that continues to ravage our communities, especially
Black and Brown communities, after decades of disinvestment.
Philadelphia has already suffered 473 homicides this year, mostly committed with firearms, and is on pace to set an all-time record. It is of utmost importance to fund initiative to end the gun violence epidemic; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, This Council hereby urges
the U.S. Congress to pass the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act (H.R. 5768), which would provide $1 Billion in federal funding over the next 10 years to help local and state police raise their clearance rates for both fatal and non-fatal shooting cases.
End