History of the Office of Victim Advocate
The Pennsylvania Office of the Victim Advocate (OVA) was created by Act 8, 1995 during Governor Tom Ridge's Special Session on Crime and the office is dedicated to representing, protecting and advancing the individual and collective rights and interests of crime victims. The Victim Advocate is nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve a term of six years. The Victim Advocate has the authority and the duty to represent the rights and interest of crime victims before the PA Department of Corrections (DOC) and the PA Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP)..
One of OVA’s goals is to provide crime victims with a victim-centered continuum of service throughout the post sentencing process. Our efforts are primarily directed toward ensuring that crime victims registered with OVA are afforded their post sentencing rights to notification and input when offenders under the jurisdiction of the DOC or PBPP are being considered for release back to the community. Another of OVA’s goals is to advocate for the effective use of victim comments into the decision making process for release and for the inclusion of victim issues into the release plans of inmates. For a more extensive listing of the services available, please click here.
OVA is also committed to improving and expanding the response of the criminal justice system to the needs and concerns of crime victims so that the inclusion of crime victims moves from being an obligation to being viewed as an opportunity for justice and healing. Working in collaboration with statewide victim service providers, state agencies and other stakeholders, the Victim Advocate participates in discussions regarding legislation, policy and practice via appointment to state-level committees and commissions such as the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency and the Victim Services Advisory Committee (VSAC) of PCCD; PA State Council for the Interstate Compact for the Supervision of Adult Offenders; PA State Council for Interstate Juvenile Supervision; PA Commission on Sentencing (ex officio member); Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.
