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:

  • Enhances victims’ rights under the federal criminal code by ensuring that all victims have access to current information concerning all rights (including availability of free rape exams) and to the Office of Victims’ Rights Ombudsman in the Department of Justice.
  • Requires the Director of the National Institute of Justice to establish best practices for evidence retention and to assist state, local, and tribal governments in adopting and implementing such practices.
  • Authorizes appropriations for the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, the Paul Coverdell Forensic Sciences Improvement Grant Program, the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program, and crime victims legal assistance grants.  To acknowledge current fiscal realities, the legislation reduces authorizations by over 20 percent when compared to the 2004 Act.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is the sponsor of the Justice for All Reauthorization Act, which he first championed in 2004.