Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy
To Department Of Justice's DNA Initiative
March 11, 2003

[BACKGROUND: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) supported and fought for full funding of the Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act of 2000 and the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000.  In July 2002, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he won committee approval of the DNA Sexual Assault Justice Act of 2002 (sponsored by Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del.), which later passed the Senate unanimously but was held up in the House.  Leahy is the chief sponsor of the bipartisan death penalty reform package before the Senate, the Innocence Protection Act,  which provides procedures for post-conviction DNA testing where it can help expose wrongful convictions.  Leahy wrote to Attorney General Ashcroft on Jan.10, 2002, and again on March 6, 2002, to ask the Attorney General to replenish funds taken from a post-conviction DNA testing initiative.  At the time the funds were diverted (for use in identifying the remains of victims of the 9/11 attacks), the funds had been set aside, but the initiative had not yet been launched.]

Comments Of Senator Patrick Leahy,
 Ranking Democratic Member, Senate Judiciary Committee:

“After years of shortchanging the nation’s crime labs, the Administration’s proposal to spend $1 billion dollars on DNA analysis over the next five years is long overdue.  For two years I have repeatedly urged the Administration and House Republicans to fully fund existing programs aimed at eliminating the DNA backlog crisis – and in particular, the inexcusable backlog of untested rape kits.  Until now, the Justice Department has simply refused to make this a high priority.  In the meantime, untested critical evidence has been piling up while rapists and killers remain at large, while victims continue to anguish, and while statutes of limitation expire. 

“Also overdue is the Administration’s new commitment to spending $5 million a year for DNA testing of convicted offenders who may be wrongfully incarcerated.  Post-conviction DNA testing has already been used to exonerate more than 100 prisoners nationwide, including 12 awaiting execution.  Last year the Justice Department cancelled plans to spend $750,000 on a post-conviction DNA testing initiative.  The Department at last has recognized the importance of ensuring that the power of modern science, in the form of DNA testing, is available to help prosecutors and defendants alike establish the truth about guilt and innocence.  These steps are overdue, but they are welcome, and they will make a difference.”

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