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34-610: Originally founded in 1980 as the California State Coalition of Rape Crisis Centers, the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) was created by rape crisis centers from across the state interested in creating a unified voice to advocate on behalf of the statewide needs of survivors, system’s change, funding needs and policy advocacy. CALCASA works closely with rape crisis centers, government agencies, campuses, institutions, lawmakers,

68-574: A Senate with 50 members and a House of Representatives with 203 members, making it the second-largest state legislature in the nation, behind New Hampshire , and the largest full-time legislature. Senators are elected for a term of four years. Representatives are elected for a term of two years. The Pennsylvania general elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years. A vacant seat must be filled by special election,

102-417: A formal report to authorities. We must give survivors of child sexual abuse the time they need to report on their own terms—not according to some arbitrary and outdated time limit. We also know that adults who commit sexual violence tend to commit multiple acts against multiple people. And it is time for Pennsylvania law to reflect this reality and provide law enforcement the ability to investigate whenever

136-489: A tool for survivors to keep them safe. People are just becoming aware of this as an option for them. When they see there's some action they can take, they're probably more likely to reach out for help also. In 2018, PCAR launched its Sexual Violence Legal Assistance Project to provide comprehensive legal services for sexual violence survivors. It also lobbied the state legislature to eliminate civil and criminal statutes of limitation in child sexual abuse cases and to also "expand

170-473: A victim is ready to make a report in hopes of stopping the perpetrator from harming others. PCAR personnel currently research, develop and publish resources regarding sexual assault-related issues, and present training programs for professionals across Pennsylvania, such as PCAR's reference cards and training videos for Pennsylvania judges and PCAR's annual state conference, including the 2023 event, "Honoring Resiliency and Humanity." They also work with members of

204-798: Is an annual event which is organized on a rotating basis between the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape  and CALCASA. The conference has rotating themes with the 2019 NSAC theme being Beyond the Breakthrough, which sought to inspire the collective movement to end sexual violence and build on the momentum of the MeToo movement . PreventConnect is a national project of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault with funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. The goal of PreventConnect

238-761: Is the legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania . The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg . In colonial times (1682–1776), the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and was unicameral . Since the Constitution of 1776 , the legislature has been known as the General Assembly. The General Assembly became a bicameral legislature in 1791. The General Assembly has 253 members, consisting of

272-456: Is to advance the primary prevention of sexual assault and relationship violence by building a community of practice among people who are engaged in such efforts. PreventConnect also builds the capacity of local, state, territorial, national and tribal agencies and organizations to develop, implement and evaluate effective prevention initiatives. Raliance is a national collaborative committed to ending sexual violence in one generation. It comprises

306-707: The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV), the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) and CALCASA. Raliance was founded in 2015 through a multimillion dollar seed investment by the National Football League . In addition to the NFL, Raliance has formed partnerships with other organizations including Uber . Bold Moves is a campaign by CALCASA launched in 2020 focused on preventing sexual violence in all forms. The campaign

340-485: The U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women , and Prevention Connection: The Violence Against Women Partnership funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Injury Control and Prevention . The National Sexual Assault Conference (NSAC) is a two and a half day, advocacy-based conference providing advanced training opportunities and information regarding sexual violence intervention and prevention. NSAC

374-457: The 19th century, the culture of corruption in the General Assembly got so bad that from 1866 to 1873, about 8,700 of 9,300 acts passed in that timeframe were local or special acts. The frustration of the people of the Commonwealth with its legislature finally boiled over in 1871 and resulted in a 1873 constitutional convention and a 1874 constitutional amendment. One of the amendment's reforms

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408-478: The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) and ValorUS in operating RALIANCE , which was established with financial support from the National Football League in 2015 to reduce and ultimately eradicate sexual violence. At the end of 2023, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape rebranded and combined with the group Respect Together and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center . The new name

442-475: The Protection of Victims of Sexual Violence or Intimidation Law, which expanded "traditional court-ordered protection from its typical targets [of harassment]—such as ex-spouses or relatives—to acquaintances and strangers," including minors. According to Joyce Lukima, PCAR's chief operating officer, "Survivors of rape on college campuses have gotten protective orders under the law." Lukima added: This really offers

476-624: The United States, and advocates for victims of sexual violence. Founded in 1975, PCAR works with a statewide network of 51 rape crisis centers serving all 67 counties across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide services to survivors of sexual violence. As part of this organization's mission, PCAR personnel research and advocate for public policies to protect and provide recovery assistance to victims of sexual violence and to hold sexual violence offenders accountable in order to improve

510-652: The administrator of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, was elected as PCAR's president. In December of that same year, the Pennsylvania House's Judiciary Committee voted 14-3 in favor of legislation that would strip husbands of the "right to use marriage as a defense against sexual assault charges." The bill had increased its co-sponsorship from five legislators during 1978 to twenty-four in 1979. Between June and March of 1978, seventy-seven women had reported being forced by their husbands to have sexual intercourse, against their will, according to PCAR, which noted that this figure

544-528: The committee, is appointed by the other four and may not be an elected or appointed official. If the leadership cannot decide on a fifth member, the State Supreme Court may appoint him or her. While in office, legislators may not hold civil office. Even if a member resigns, the Constitution states that the legislator may not be appointed to civil office for the duration of the term to which the legislator

578-477: The consent of both chambers. The Pennsylvania General Assembly has a lengthy history as one of the most openly corrupt state legislatures in the United States, going back over two centuries to the era of the Thirteen Colonies . In 1794, while visiting western Pennsylvania , Alexander Hamilton wrote to Rufus King : "The political putrefaction of Pennsylvania is greater than I had any idea of". During

612-665: The consent of the other. The governor may call a special session in order to press for legislation on important issues. As of 2017, only 35 special sessions have been called in the history of Pennsylvania. The Assembly meets in the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg , which was completed in 1906. Under the Pennsylvania Constitution , the Assembly must meet in the City of Harrisburg and can move only if given

646-521: The criminal justice system, medical personnel, community-based organizations and business leaders providing a central resource for improving society's response to sexual violence by supplying knowledge and expertise on a wide range of issues. It is also frequently the recipient of federal grants to conduct nationwide programs, including technical assistance for the Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program of

680-413: The date of which is set by the presiding officer of the respective house. Senators must be at least 25 years old, and Representatives at least 21 years old. They must be citizens and residents of the state for a minimum of four years and reside in their districts for at least one year. Individuals who have been convicted of felonies, including embezzlement, bribery, and perjury, are ineligible for election;

714-640: The introduction of victims' sexual histories into court cases was delayed by legislators attempting to weaken proposed changes by continuing to allow the introduction of sexual history information in statutory rape cases that involved victims who were aged sixteen or younger. In November 1978, PCAR executive director Sandra Lambert praised U.S. President Jimmy Carter for signing the Rape Victim Act into law on October 30 of that year. The federal law, which followed Pennsylvania's groundbreaking passage of Act 53 in 1976 to improve legal protections for rape survivors,

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748-593: The late 1970s, PCAR and its supporters developed and presented professional development and civic education programs that provided training for educators, healthcare workers, journalist, legal and public safety professionals, and members of the general public regarding the forms of sexual violence and their impact on communities across Pennsylvania. From 2009 to October 1, 2015, PCAR founded and provided financial management services for AEquitas, which supported prosecutors working on human trafficking and gender-based violence cases worldwide. In 2015, Pennsylvania enacted

782-588: The necessary exception. This is why Pennsylvania remains the only U.S. state that has not yet completed a comprehensive codification of its general statutory law. Since 1970, Pennsylvania has been undertaking its first official codification process, resulting in the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes . With over 300 years of uncodified statutes to go through, the codification process is still not yet complete after over five decades of work. President Pro Tempore : Kim Ward (R) Speaker of

816-447: The news media to provide access to accurate information and foster ethical reporting while also increasing awareness by the general public of the impact that sexual violence has on individuals and individual communities. In addition, PCAR personnel manage the operations of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC), which provides sexual violence prevention and intervention resources. They also collaborate with personnel from

850-473: The safety of communities. During the fall of 1975, PCAR and its supporters lobbied members of the Pennsylvania State Legislature to change procedures statewide for defining, managing and prosecuting rape cases. Among the changes that were demanded: On March 16, 1976, PCAR joined with women's groups statewide to hold a lobby day at the Pennsylvania State Capitol when legislation prohibiting

884-456: The state Constitution also adds the category of "other infamous crimes," which can be broadly interpreted by state courts. No one who has been previously expelled from the General Assembly may be elected. Legislative districts are drawn every ten years, following the U.S. Census . They are drawn by a five-member commission, of which four members are the majority and minority leaders of each house (or their delegates). The fifth member, who chairs

918-437: The window of opportunity for those who have timed out of the criminal and civil limits to seek justice" through civil methods later in life. According to PCAR's chief executive officer, Karen Baker: We know that delayed reporting of sexual violence is normal, common and should be expected. Many people who have been sexually abused, wait months, years or decades before discussing what was done to them with anyone, let alone making

952-744: Was an increase from the fifty-nine cases of marital rape that had been reported in 1977. On February 5, 1980, PCAR joined with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence to present a Legislative Education Day at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to increase understanding about House Bills 744 and 745, which proposed the creation of The Office on Crime Victims to improve investigation and prosecution of domestic abuse and sexual assault crimes and fund domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers and support services for crime victims and witnesses. Beginning in

986-559: Was designed to reduce the introduction of testimony in future rape trials across the United States regarding survivors' past sexual histories by requiring that any such proposed testimony would be submitted to presiding judges in private hearings to determine whether or not it was directly related to the defense of alleged offenders and appropriate for trial use. According to Lambert, "In the 27 rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania, we have seen not only an increase in reporting of rape since Act 53

1020-536: Was elected. The General Assembly is a continuing body within the term for which its representatives are elected. It convenes at 12 o'clock noon on the first Tuesday of January each year and then meets regularly throughout the year. Both houses adjourn on November 30 in even-numbered years, when the terms of all members of the House and half the members of the Senate expire. Neither body can adjourn for more than three days without

1054-676: Was funded by the Services*Training*Officers*Prosecutors (STOP) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program funds (TE18211578) through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) .  Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape The Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect ( PCAR ), known as the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape from 1975 to 2023, is an organization that opposes rape and sexual violence in Pennsylvania and

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1088-443: Was passed, but also more offenders going to court." Lambert noted that the recidivism rate of rape offenders was estimated at seventy-three percent. From May through October of 1979, according to PCAR, 1,322 victims of rape sought assistance from nineteen of the thirty-five rape crisis centers operating across the state. Of those 1,322 survivors, 557 (42.1 percent) were children under the age of eighteen. In August 1979, Anne Pride,

1122-710: Was the Pennsylvania Coalition to Advance Respect . On December 18, 2023, the 20-year-long CEO, Karen Baker, retired from the organization. The new CEO is now Yolanda Edrington, the former COO of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Edrington is native to Harrisburg, PA. PCAR was accredited the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations' (PANO) Seal of Excellence. Pennsylvania General Assembly Minority Minority The Pennsylvania General Assembly

1156-476: Was to prohibit the General Assembly from writing statutes covering more than one subject . Unfortunately, the amendment (today found at Section 3 of Article III of the Pennsylvania Constitution) was so poorly written that it also prevented the General Assembly from undertaking a comprehensive codification of the Commonwealth's statutes until another amendment was pushed through in 1967 to provide

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