A Dauphin County grand jury this week released recommendations on how to improve the state Legislature’s handling of sexual misconduct accusations.

Shea Rhodes, director of the Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation at Villanova University’s Charles Widger School of Law, testified about findings from a Villanova research project that discovered more than 600 claims of sexual harassment within state government resulting in $1.9 million paid out in settlements through taxpayer funds during the past five years.

Rhodes concluded “the culture of the political environment in Harrisburg promotes sexual misconduct.”

Her testimony and the grand jury’s recommendations for improving the capitol’s culture stem from an investigation of sexual assault involving a former Butler County state representative.

Although the report did not identify the representative, media reports confirmed it was Brian Ellis. The grand jury recommended no criminal charges against Ellis.

However, the grand jury and Rhodes determined the process of reporting sexual misconduct in the Legislature needs not only improvement, but oversight.

Rhodes found a lack of transparency in existing policies, inadequate confidentiality protection and a lack of accountability in that accused officials can resign with pensions and no repercussions.

Moreover, there is no centralized process for a victim to report harassment, and attempting to navigate the system is “nearly impossible.”

Grand jury recommendations included establishing an independent office to investigate misconduct, eliminating time limits on sanctions for misconduct, giving this office subpoena power, making interference in an investigation a criminal offense, requiring misconduct to be reported and allowing the office to investigate criminal behavior, sexual harassment or assault, financial crimes and discrimination.

In an era of politicians, celebrities and other high-profile individuals being accused of abusing their power in the form of sexual misconduct, the grand jury’s recommendations should not be taken lightly.

One important area considered by Rhodes and the grand jury was the timeliness of reporting misconduct.

Rhodes noted there is a five-year window in the state’s House of Representatives for reporting misconduct and no defined deadline in the Senate.

She said victims are often reluctant to come forward due to embarrassment, trauma or fear of retaliation.

She argued deadlines for reporting abuse “should be expanded considerably.”

We agree this could alleviate the stress of meeting a deadline for victims. The passage of time doesn’t erase wrongdoing.

“Improvements in the system can make it more likely to achieve justice for victims and suspects,” the report concludes.

We agree.

These recommendations could discourage misconduct in the Capitol and provide an outlet to prevent those being harassed from suffering in silence.