Transitioning Times

On October 5, 2015, Transitions hosted a training titled Stopping Human Trafficking in Central Pennsylvania at the Best Western Plus Country Cupboard Inn.  87 people attended, including 42 victim advocates, 16 law enforcement personnel, 13 medical professionals, 11 Children and Youth personnel, 3 prosecutors, and others.  Information was provided by Viktoria Kristiansson, Attorney Advisor for Aequitas: The Prosecutors’ Resource for Violence Against Women; Detective William Woolf with Fairfax County, Virginia; and D. Peter Johnson, Union County District Attorney.  Participants learned how to identify victims and perpetrators of human trafficking, how to successfully investigate human trafficking cases, and possible strategies at trial and sentencing.  Act 105, Pennsylvania’s human trafficking law, and new protections for victims, including Sexual Violence Protection Orders and Protection from Intimidation Orders were also reviewed.  This training was made possib...

Prior to today, July 1st, the only people who could be granted restraining orders in Pennsylvania were those who qualified for a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order.  One of the qualifications is that the parties must be related by blood or marriage or have had a dating or intimate relationship.  Thankfully, this has changed!  PA's legislature realized the loopholes this created for victims of crime and has passed the PSVI Act , which allows for victims of sexual violence or intimidation to receive restraining orders, Sexual Violence Protection Orders (SVPOs) or Protection from Intimidation Orders (PFIs). Sexual Violence Protection Orders will be available to anyone who has been a victim of sexual violence but is not related to the person according to the PFA requirements.  Protection from Intimidation Orders will be available to minor children who are being harassed or stalked by an adult.  PCADV has created some great information which I encourage you to read....