WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, today applauded the committee’s passage of legislation he cosponsored to protect the rights of crime victims and help reduce backlogs in the collection and processing of DNA casework by law enforcement, particularly in sexual assault cases.
“Due process for all is a fundamental guarantee at the heart of our nation’s judicial system,” Senator Coons said. “Since 2004, the Justice for All Act has enhanced due process rights by expanding access to timely DNA evidence in criminal proceedings and strengthening protections for crime victims. We must continue working to improve the delivery of justice in our courtrooms by reauthorizing programs that reign in backlogs of DNA evidence and help to keep our communities safe. I thank my colleagues for their support of this important bill, and look forward to its consideration by the full Senate.”
The final version of the bill that was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday:
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is the sponsor of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act, which he first championed in 2004.