Lofgren Announces Support for “Grants for DNA Backlog Prosecution” Bill
September 21, 2005
Media Contact: David Thomas, 202.225.3072
Congresswoman Lofgren (D-CA) today announced her support for HR 1602, the “Grants for DNA Backlogs Prosecution” bill. This bipartisan bill will provide funding for the prosecution of cases which have been solved using new DNA technology.
In 2004, Congress began a five-year, billion-dollar “DNA initiative” to process old DNA samples from crime scenes and enter them into a matching database. In California alone, this effort has yielded three new cold-hit cases per day. However, the bill did not provide funding for the prosecution of these crimes. HR 1602 will create a 5-year, $100 million per year grant program to enable prosecutors to hire and train staff to prosecute these cases. With this funding, at California salary schedules, approximately 400 unsolved cold hit homicide cases per year or 2,000 unsolved cold hit sexual assault cases per year could be addressed.
“DNA technology has emerged as an important tool for both identifying and exonerating people accused of crimes,” Congresswoman Lofgren said in a statement today. “Simply identifying criminals is not enough. Congress must now take the next responsible step and grant local and federal prosecutors the ability to bring these crimes to trial. This will give closure to the victims and their families, and help prevent future crimes by removing known criminals from the streets. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill and approve this funding as soon as possible.”
Sponsored by Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA-24), HR 1602 currently has 58 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill has also been endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the California District Attorneys Association, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and the California State Sherriffs’ Association.
Congresswoman Lofgren (D-CA) today announced her support for HR 1602, the “Grants for DNA Backlogs Prosecution” bill. This bipartisan bill will provide funding for the prosecution of cases which have been solved using new DNA technology.
In 2004, Congress began a five-year, billion-dollar “DNA initiative” to process old DNA samples from crime scenes and enter them into a matching database. In California alone, this effort has yielded three new cold-hit cases per day. However, the bill did not provide funding for the prosecution of these crimes. HR 1602 will create a 5-year, $100 million per year grant program to enable prosecutors to hire and train staff to prosecute these cases. With this funding, at California salary schedules, approximately 400 unsolved cold hit homicide cases per year or 2,000 unsolved cold hit sexual assault cases per year could be addressed.
“DNA technology has emerged as an important tool for both identifying and exonerating people accused of crimes,” Congresswoman Lofgren said in a statement today. “Simply identifying criminals is not enough. Congress must now take the next responsible step and grant local and federal prosecutors the ability to bring these crimes to trial. This will give closure to the victims and their families, and help prevent future crimes by removing known criminals from the streets. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this bill and approve this funding as soon as possible.”
Sponsored by Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA-24), HR 1602 currently has 58 bipartisan cosponsors. The bill has also been endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association, the National Center for Victims of Crime, the California District Attorneys Association, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, and the California State Sherriffs’ Association.
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