VCAC -- Press Release

<title>VCAC -- Press Release</title>

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<b>10/11/2004</b>

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<b>New Federal Legislation</b>
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Congratulations!<br>
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This past weekend Congress approved most of the provisions we wanted for crime victims. Many thanks to all of you who helped convince Congress to pass legislation guaranteeing basic rights for crime victims!<br>
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Through the political process, these provisions were added to other provisions in other bills related to DNA testing. The "new" bill is known as the "Justice for All Act of 2004" (H.H. 5107)<br>
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The Crime Victims' Rights portion of the bill provides substantive rights for crime victims in federal courts, as well as mechanisms to enforce these rights. It also authorizes $155 million in funding over the next five years for victims' assistance programs at the federal and state level.<br>
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The DNA portion of the bill will provide much-needed funds to test the DNA backlog, provide funding for victims' services through grants to prosecutor and defender offices, and ensure access to post conviction DNA testing for those who may be in prison or on death row for crimes they did not commit.<br>
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It came down to the wire, but we did it. <br>
Crime victims across the United States are most grateful for your help.<br>

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