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Forwarded by the Joliet Diocese Legislative Advocacy Network for the USCCB
Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
Act of 2003 September 10, 2004 Legislation:
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to take up S. 1700,
Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003, on Tuesday,
September 14. The Senate Judiciary Committee began marking up the
legislation this past week but postponed further action until Tuesday,
largely because of opposition raised by a handful of committee members.
Opponents of the legislation say it would encourage unnecessary appeals
and would be too expensive. Opponents are willing to offer as many
amendments as possible in order to bog the bill down and prevent it from
going to the Senate floor. The
proposed bill includes the Innocence
Protection Act, which the United States Catholic Conference has
supported for several years and will ensure that federal inmates have
access to post-conviction DNA testing. Despite opponents’ concerns,
the House version of the bill was passed overwhelmingly (357 to 67) last
October. What the DNA/IPA Will Do: The Advancing
Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003 will authorize more
than $1 billion, over the next five years, to pay for costs associated
with eligible federal and state death row inmates requesting access to
post-conviction DNA testing. The bill also authorizes up to $755
million, over the next five years, to reduce the backlog of DNA
samples untested in our nation’s crime laboratories; and authorizes
up to $500 million, over the same time period, as an incentive for the
states to improve their criminal justice process regarding the
prosecution of capital cases and access to competent legal
representation for defendants. These grants are structured so that a
state that accepts a prosecution improvement grant, must also develop
a system to properly train defense lawyers who accept capital cases.
Sponsors hope the bill will reduce the chances that an innocent person
will be put to death. HOW YOU CAN HELP: If your Senator is on the Judiciary Committee, please contact him/her and ask him/her to attend the Judiciary Mark-up on September 14 and tell him/her to finally pass S. 1700. From our head count of Judiciary members, there are more than enough votes to pass the bill but it has been difficult to get enough Senators to attend the Mark-ups and to call for a vote of the bill. S. 1700, has the support of the Senate Judiciary leaders, Hatch (R-UT) and Leahy (D-VT) but the National District Attorney’s Association is fighting hard to keep the bill from being voted on. Remind your Senators that the President, many prosecutors and defense attorneys, and the overwhelming majority of the House support the bill because it would give greater access to DNA testing by convicted offenders and it would help the states improve the quality of their legal representation in capital cases. Also remind your Senator that Congress is only going to be in session a few more weeks, time is running out. USCCB Position: Although it will not end the use of capital punishment, the U.S. Bishops support the Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology Act of 2003 because it will help protect innocent people from being executed. Nothing illustrates the need for such protection more than the number of death row inmates who have been exonerated, some within hours of being put to death.
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