DNA Backlog Program Legislation Clears Senate Judiciary Committee

Washington, D.C. – The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to report the Debbie Smith Act, S. 820, to the full Senate for its consideration.  U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), a member of the committee, supports the bill as a co-sponsor, and voted today to advance its consideration. 

“Ensuring adequate resources are in place to support prompt and thorough forensic investigations to bring perpetrators of crime to justice remains a critical component of obtaining justice for crime victims and stopping criminals from their ability to act again,” said Senator Crapo.  “The Debbie Smith Act provides the needed resources to state and local law enforcement agencies and forensic labs to complete forensic analyses of crime scenes and untested rape kits, including processes of rape kits by Idaho State Police.  I urge the Senate to take up this legislation as soon as possible to provide timely justice and prevent violent crime.” 

S. 820 would reauthorize the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program credited with empowering state and local crime laboratories to process hundreds of thousands of cases and uploading DNA profiles in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s DNA database.  Since 2005, the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program has enabled state and local crime laboratories to process more than 860,000 cases and upload over 376,000 DNA profiles to the Combined DNA Index System, which accounts for 43 percent of all forensic profiles in the system. 

The legislation now goes to the full Senate for consideration.  Senator Crapo remains a strong advocate for continued focus on the impact of crime on individuals, families and communities and any needed steps to improve crime response and recovery. 

RELATED:

• Senator Crapo supported a Senate Resolution designating April 7-13 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
• At a March 27, 2019, Budget Committee markup, Senator Crapo highlighted a budgeting gimmick that withholds money from victims of crime and expressed support for zeroing out the harmful program.
• Senator Crapo has supported various laws enacted to protect human trafficking victims.
• Senator Crapo voted in favor of the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization in 2018.
• Senator Crapo has been a longtime supporter of the Violence Against Women Act and co-lead its 2013 reauthorization.
• In March 2018, Senator Crapo voted in favor of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which passed the Senate on a 97-2 vote.
• At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on March 20, 2018, Senator Crapo highlighted Idaho’s successful model for aiding victims of domestic violence. 

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