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Klobuchar Chairs Hearing Focusing on the Role of DNA Evidence in Solving Rape Cases

Senior attorney from Hennepin County Attorney's Office testifies

December 15, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar co-chaired today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focusing on the role of DNA evidence in solving rape cases.  At the hearing, Klobuchar heard from experts in the field of DNA evidence and rape crimes, including Steve Redding from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, and explored how to most effectively use DNA evidence in criminal cases.       

“Minnesota has long been at the forefront of DNA analysis and the uses of DNA evidence in criminal cases,” said Klobuchar.  “Steve has prosecuted these crimes for more than three decades and has been a DNA expert for almost two decades.  His testimony today will help us address this important issue going forward.”

Steve Redding is currently a Senior Assistant County Attorney in the Violent Crimes Division of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, specializing in DNA prosecutions and forensic evidence.  He has been with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office since 1985 and successfully prosecuted the first two cases using “cold hit” DNA evidence in the United States.  Mr. Redding is currently managing a project in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to test rape kits from old, previously unsolved rape cases.  This project has already led to the conviction of three individuals; charges have been filed against five more.

At the hearing, witnesses discussed the importance of testing rape kits and the critical role that DNA evidence plays in obtaining convictions.  They also addressed the need for better communication between crime laboratories, law enforcement, and prosecutors as well as the importance of ensuring that crime laboratories have the necessary staffing, equipment, and funding resources to meet their objectives.

Senator Klobuchar served as Hennepin County Attorney before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006.

CAPTION: Senator Klobuchar and Steve Redding from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office following the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing

Link to Hearing:
http://judiciary.senate.gov/resources/webcasts/index.cfm


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