May 16, 2025 – To better protect the nearly 30,000 people at high-risk for lethality in Pennsylvania – and in response to the 119 women killed last year in domestic violence homicides – Crisis Center North (CCN) and Nexion Solutions, in collaboration with Penn State University (PSU) faculty, is announcing a landmark new research endeavor around the implementation of a new technology-based solution to enhance the safety of domestic violence survivors.

A New Way to Protect Survivors:

CCN will collaborate with Nexion Solutions to provide a cohort of 60 domestic violence survivors at highest risk for lethality with the new technology, which – through cellular connectivity on Verizon’s best-in-class network – will provide them with immediate access to police and emergency services in the event of a violent altercation.

CCN will work with local law enforcement to implement the technology throughout Allegheny County, using a Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) and hospital intake assessment to ensure the technology is protecting those at highest risk.

“Historically, our state’s technological advances have lagged behind due to lack of resources and are tantamount to providing victims with hollowed out lipstick tubes with curled papers containing hotline phone numbers,” said Grace Coleman, CEO of CCN. “With the support of new funding partners and access to new safety solutions, we can move the technological dial forward, creating a nationally replicable program to benefit victims.”

Researching the Future of Victim Safety:

The PSU faculty research team will provide program evaluation based on the technology distributed in Allegheny County. They will measure success from multiple perspectives including:

1)    Participants' safety and emotional well-being;

2)    Increased trust in law enforcement after joining the program;

3)    Changes in police response times during incidents involving the technology;

4)    How the program improves officer safety and decision-making power during incidents;

5)    How device-collected evidence supports securing convictions;

6)    How results compare across different demographics to validate the approach;

7)    Trends in device activations to assess exposure to severe violence;

8)    If the technology increases domestic violence reporting and testifying.

“This research program will allow us to test the efficacy of a first of its kind technology solution,” said Richard Lomotey, Professor of Information Studies at Pennsylvania State University. “With the rigor and depth we have applied to the design of this proposal, we look forward to providing our results to CCN and contributing to the national discussion around technology use to address societal problems.”

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Other Domestic Violence Data in Pennsylvania:

According to the 2023 Domestic Violence (DV)Counts Survey, in one day, 13,335 national and 827 Pennsylvania requests for DV service went unmet due to lack of resources. Over the last five years Allegheny County, PA, has experienced 57 DV related deaths, making it the second most lethal county for DV victims in the State.

ABOUT CRISISCENTER NORTH: Crisis Center North (CCN) is a non-profit counseling and resource center that provides services to victims and significant others of domestic and intimate partner violence in northern and western Allegheny County that serves more than 2,000 survivors per year. Services provided include individual and group counseling, case management, legal and medical advocacy, economic empowerment, housing-first programming, and prevention education. Since 1978, CCN has empowered victims of domestic violence and cultivated community attitudes and behaviors that help break the cycle of violence. The Center’s services are free, professional, and confidential, and provided to individuals regardless of race, age, gender, disability, economic status, sexual orientation, or nationality.

For individuals experiencing domestic violence, please contact our 24/7 confidential crisis hotline at (412) 364-5556, toll-free at 1(866) 782-0911, or via the Text Chat Line (text 1-877-522-6093 or chat at www.crisiscenternorth.org). Please visit www.crisiscenternorth.org for more information.

ABOUTNEXION SOLUTIONS: Nexion Solutions sits at the intersection of public safety and victim services, giving organizations a technology-based solution to protect those at highest risk and is a first-of-its-kind wearable emergency response technology designed to protect victims of violence and empower law enforcement with real-time insights. This innovative solution aims to safeguard those most vulnerable to physical harm. The company’s portfolio products are built on proprietary emergency response technology and designed to meet the unique needs of those at highest risk for violence, as well as supporting law enforcement, emergency response teams, and justice departments. Inspired by the tragic loss of her sister in 2007, Founder Liz Kohler established Nexion Solutions with its mission to reduce the risk of violence among vulnerable populations.

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