Transitioning Times

Did you know that if you are the victim of a crime in Pennsylvania there is a program that may pay for your medical bills? It is called the Victim's Compensation Assistance Program (VCAP).   Eligibility Requirements include: Clients must be a victim of a crime that happened in Pennsylvania or a PA resident who was injured or killed in a foreign country that does not have a compensation program. They must report the crime to authorities (law enforcement, hospital personnel, courthouse filing) or file a PFA within three days of the crime, as well as cooperate with these authorities and the Victim's Compensation Assistance Program. The claim must be filed within 2 years of the crime.  The client filing must not have been involved in any illegal activity that may have caused the crime to occur.  Clients must also have an out of pocket expense of at least $100, unless they are older than 60 years old. VCAP may be able to help reimburse victims of crime for medical bills, lo

This is Lavena Johnson; she was raped and murdered while serving with the United States Army in Iraq. Many of the posts on this blog have centered on sexual assault within the military.   It is not because assaults are suddenly happening more often, or more severely.   Sexual assaults have been occurring in the military for a long time.   The military has recently been in the news due to a Department of Defense  report and subsequent hearings on the topic in Congress.   Another reason military sexual assault is in the news is the allegations against superior officers at Lackland Air Force Base. Representatives in the House have met with victims of military assault and are working toward the passage of the STOP (Sexual Assault Training Oversight and Prevention) Act.   Representative Jackie Speier, D-Calif, introduced this legislation, which would eliminate the chain of command from having the authority to investigate sexual assault allegations within the military.   The in