Bipartisan Legislation Co-Sponsored by Senator Hassan to Address Violent Crime Cases Passes Senate Unanimously
WASHINGTON – Bipartisan, bicameral legislation co-sponsored by Senator Maggie Hassan that would help prosecutors address violent crime cases, including sexual assault, passed the Senate unanimously this week. The bipartisan Justice Served Act would provide funds for the prosecution of crimes where the suspect was identified by DNA evidence, including in cold cases.
“It is essential that our prosecutors have the resources necessary to bring violent criminals to justice,” Senator Hassan said. “This critical funding will also allocate resources to investigate cold cases so that those who have been wrongfully convicted of a violent crime can clear their name. I urge the President to sign this important bipartisan legislation into law as soon as possible.”
The Justice Served Act of 2018 would provide funds for the prosecution of crimes cleared through DNA. This legislation:
- Authorizes five to seven percent of funds under the Debbie Smith Act to be used to prosecute cold cases;
- Enhances prosecutors’ capacity to solve these cases through advances in DNA forensic analysis;
- Brings justice to the victims of crime and their families by giving prosecutors the tools they need to investigate, solve, and close cold cases;
- Helps exonerate those who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit with new DNA testing results.
The Justice Served Act has been endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN), Debbie Smith, the Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), the Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and the National Association of Police Organizations.
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