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  For Immediate Release  
  Contact: Matt Bisbee  
  Phone: (217) 403-4690 / (217) 649-1754  
October 6, 2004
 
Rep. Johnson Announces House Passage of Justice for All Act
 

Bill includes Victims’ Bill of Rights and DNA evidence provisions

 

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Tim Johnson announced today the passage in the House of Representatives of H.R. 5107, the Justice for All Act.  The bill includes language to eliminate the large backlog of DNA evidence that has not been analyzed, to provide resources to remedy the lack of training, equipment, technology, and standards for handling DNA and other forensic evidence, and language to establish rules for post-conviction DNA testing of Federal prison inmates and requires the preservation of biological evidence in Federal criminal cases while the defendant remains incarcerated.  It provides incentive grants to States that adopt adequate procedures for providing post-conviction DNA testing and preserving biological evidence.  Additionally, it authorizes funding to help States provide competent legal services for both the prosecution and the defense in death penalty cases and provides funds for post-conviction DNA testing. 

“While I am a firm believer in the death penalty and a strong criminal justice system, for far too long our system has been plagued with wrongful convictions,” stated Johnson.  “Every citizen of our country deserves the right to use every piece of evidence surrounding a criminal case to prove their innocence and this bill will go a long way to ensure that no one is wrongfully sentenced and that the true perpetrators are punished for their crimes.  It is my hope that the Senate will pass this bill in the near future, as this is the second time in the past 2 years that the House has passed such measures.”

The second half of the bill provides victims of crime eight enforceable rights to ensure that they are able to play an active role in any hearing or court case and they receive pertinent information to the case in a timely manner.

“This provision of the bill is an important step forward in ensuring that victims of crimes have the right to participate in hearings related to their case and receive all the information they need to remain safe and informed,” Johnson said.  “This provision is long past due and I am pleased we were able to give victims these deserved rights.”

The House passed H.R. 3214, the Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act, a bill closely related to the Justice for All Act, on November 5, 2003 by a vote of 357-67.

 

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