April 5, 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Honorable Jerry Nadler
Chairman
House Committee on the Judiciary
United States House of Representatives
2132 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Honorable Karen Bass
Chairwoman
House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland Security
United States House of Representatives
2059 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Honorable Doug Collins
Ranking Member
House Committee on the Judiciary
United States House of Representatives
1504 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Honorable John Ratcliffe
Ranking Member
House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, & Homeland Security
United States House of Representatives
223 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dear Chairman Nadler and Ranking Member Collins:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We, the undersigned groups and individuals representing the criminal justice and victim advocacy communities, respectfully urge Congress to support and pass H.R. 777, including the amended language contained in S.820, the \u201cDebbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you know, since the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program was first authorized in 2004, it has provided states with desperately needed resources to carry out analyses of backlogged DNA evidence, particularly of untested sexual assault kits. In 2014, Congress showed its overwhelming bipartisan support for this initiative by passing the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act (P.L. 113-182), which extended this program through 2019. We ask for your continued support now for the bill\u2019s reauthorization to 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forty two percent of all DNA matches made in the FBI\u2019s national Combined DNA Index System, CODIS, are a direct result of funding from the Debbie Smith Act. 1 More than 192,000 matched profiles in CODIS were funded from the Debbie Smith Act grants.2 Crime laboratories have made tremendous progress towards increasing the amount of DNA samples that can be processed, but forensic DNA analysis has become a victim of its own success. Per the General Accounting Office\u2019s recent March 2019 report, labs have seen their aggregated backlog requests increased from 91,000 to 1,689,000 between FY2011 and FY2017- an 85% increase in the demand for testing.3 As technology improves to identify smaller trace amounts of DNA at crime scenes, and as law enforcement agencies have learned the value of this evidentiary tool, state labs are now facing an increased influx of requests for DNA analysis and are processing DNA samples more than ever before. Additionally, recent state laws have been passed to prioritize sexual assault kit testing, requiring state labs to meet this increased demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given the above reasons, it is imperative that Congress votes to reauthorize the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program through the passage of H.R. 777, with the amended language contained in S.820, which supports and empowers victims\u2019 requests for answers and justice, and provides critical tools to law enforcement officials to identify and take sexual predators off America\u2019s streets. We appreciate your leadership on behalf of victims of violent crime, and your commitment to ensuring the reauthorization of this landmark legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scott Berkowitz <\/p>\n\n\n\n
President <\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAINN<\/p>\n\n\n\n
–<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cc: Representative Carolyn Maloney; Representative Ann Wagner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
–<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abuse & Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Academy of Forensic Nursing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advocates to End Domestic Violence\/SARA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alabama Coalition Against Rape<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternatives to Violence Center AEDV<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ASPEN<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bingham Crisis Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boundary County Youth Crisis & Domestic Violence Hotline Bridges Against Domestic Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alliance for Community Transformations<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alternatives, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Artic Women In Crisis (AWIC)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bay Area Women Against Rape<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bright Horizons Resources for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Call for Help, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canyon Creek Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CEASE Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Center of Hope<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault Choices, CDVPC, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cleveland Rape Crisis Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Collins Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crisis Center of Anderson & Cherokee Counties<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crisis Center of Comal County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crisis Center of the Plains<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crisis Resource Center of Steele County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day One<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deaf Smith County Crisis Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denton County Friends of the Family<\/p>\n\n\n\n
District 4 HRDC \u2013 Domestic Abuse Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DNA Saves<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services of Carbon County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The DOVES Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eastland County Crisis Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
End Violence Against Women International<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every Woman\u2019s Place<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Families First, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family Advocates, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family Crisis Center, Inc. of Northeast Arkansas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family Crisis Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family Service & Children\u2019s Aid Society\/PPC Violence Free Network\/Shelter <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family Services of Tulare County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Freedom House<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gateway Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hannah\u2019s Place, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Healing Hearts & Families<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H-E-A-R-T, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Heartly House<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Council on Domestic Violence for Page County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crime Victim Center (St. Louis, MO)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hope Unlimited<\/p>\n\n\n\n
International Association of Forensic Nurses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
International Organization for Victim Assistance (IOVA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James House<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joyful Heart Foundation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kedish House Domestic Violence Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Libral Area Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Services, Inc<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily Pad SANE Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
liveSAFE Resources<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Major Cities Chiefs Association<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matagorda County Women\u2019s Crisis Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mosaic Georgia<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moving to End Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mutual Ground, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Alliance to End Sexual Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Center for Victims of Crime<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Children\u2019s Alliance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Criminal Justice Association<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National District Attorneys Association<\/p>\n\n\n\n
National Organization for Victim Assistance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nebraska Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Nebraska Rape\/Domestic Abuse Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Coast Rape Crisis Team<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NWA Center for Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Open Arms Rape Crisis Center & LGBT+ Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Partnership of Ashe \u2013 A Safe Home for Everyone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PAVE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Piedmont Rape Crisis Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pike County Partnership Against Domestic Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project Woman of Springfield and Clark County Promise Place<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New Directions Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pine Hills Advocacy Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Project: SAFE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RAINN<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rape Crisis Services of Big Spring<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rape Recovery Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reach Counseling<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Resilience, formerly Rape Victim Advocates<\/p>\n\n\n\n
RISE-SLO<\/p>\n\n\n\n
River House, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safe Berks<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safe Connections<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Safehouse Crisis Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saint Landry Evangeline Sexual Assault Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sexual Assault\/Spouse Abuse Resource Center (SARC), Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sexual Assault Center (Nashville, TN)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sexual Assault Crisis Center of Eastern CT, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sexual Assault Crisis Team of Washington County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sexual Assault Support Center, Inc. (Columbus, GA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Support, Advocacy & Resource Center (Richland, WA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tennessee Voices for Victims<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault The Abuse Network, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bridge to Hope<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Center for Family Justice<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Center For Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling And Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Cottage, Sexual Assault Center & Children\u2019s Advocacy Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Gateway Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The James House Intervention\/Prevention Services, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Multiracial Activist<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Association to PROTECT Children<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Women\u2019s Center of Tarrant County<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tifton Judicial Circuit Shelter, Inc., \u2013 DBA Ruth\u2019s Cottage; The Patticake House<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transitions of PA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tri-County Help Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
True North of Columbia<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verity<\/p>\n\n\n\n
St. Louis Circuit Attorney\u2019s Victim Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n
St. Martha\u2019s Hall<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting Point Services For Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sublette County SAFV Task Force<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Nord Center, Sexual Assault Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Purple Door<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tu Casa, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U Care, Inc. DV & SA Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vermilion County Rape Crisis Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wabanaki Women\u2019s Coalition Winnemucca Domestic Violence Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WV Foundation for Rape Information and Services YWCA Greater Los Angeles<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YWCA Metro St. Louis<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YWCA New Hampshire<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YWCA of the Sauk Valley<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YWCA South Hampton Roads<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victims\u2019 Intervention Program<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Victims Resource Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wintergarden Women\u2019s Shelter, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Women\u2019s Alliance, Inc. DBA: Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WV Foundation for Rape Information and Services<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Brevard Women\u2019s Center, Inc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts<\/p>\n\n\n\n
YWCA Richmond<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 See<\/em>, Gerald LaPorte, et al. \u201cNational Institute of Justice\u2019s 2017 Fiscal Year Report on \u201cFunding for DNA Analysis, Capacity Enhancement and Other Forensic Activities.\u201d National Institutes of Justice. 4 (April 2018). at: https:\/\/www.ncjrs.gov\/pdffiles1\/nij\/251445.pdf. See also, <\/em>Federal Bureau of Investigation. \u201cCODIS-NDIS Statistics.\u201d (February 2019). at: https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/services\/laboratory\/biometric-analysis\/codis\/ndis-statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 LaPorte at 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 U.S. General Accounting Office, GAO-19-216: \u201cDNA Evidence. DOJ Should Improve Performance Measurement and Properly Design Controls for Nationwide Grant Program.\u201d 17-18 (March 2019). Available at https:\/\/www.gao.gov\/products\/GAO-19-216.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" April 5, 2019 The Honorable Jerry NadlerChairmanHouse Committee on the Judiciary United States House of Representatives 2132 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Karen BassChairwomanHouse Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism & Homeland SecurityUnited States House...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4169,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[60],"tags":[142,216],"class_list":["post-6974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-letters-to-government-agencies-signed-by-tma","tag-advocacy-letters","tag-sexual-violence"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p89tuq-1Ou","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Advocacy-Work.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6974"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6974\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6979,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6974\/revisions\/6979"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/multiracial.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}