Page 6 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 8, 2022 Assist. Speaker Clark, Reps. Cleaver and Wagner introduce legislation to reduce National Sexual Assault Kit backlog Backlog Justice Act of 2022 would help sexual assault survivors obtain justice by streamlining DNA testing WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 30 Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (Fifth District of Massachusetts), U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver II and Ann Wagner and 28 cosponsors introduced the bipartisan Backlog Justice Act of 2022, a bill to help sexual assault survivors obtain justice by reducing the national Sexual Assault Kit (SAK) backlog and streamlining the DNA kit testing process. The Backlog Justice Act of 2022 would establish a National Sexual AsThe time has come for a Voice for Ward 5, City Councilor. LINDA SANTOS ROSA is that Voice that will be there for her constituents. She has served on the School Committee, City in the History of Revere to be elected at citywide. After leaving local Politics, she went to work for Senate President Robert Travaglini, then after her retirement, from the State House, she worked for Maura Doyle, Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court. With her experience in local and state politics, she is the one for Ward 5 Councilor. There is a Special Election, July 19th, and with your vote you can send her back to be a Voice, your Voice on the Council. She believes one tenacity and passion for her City. Please consider LINDA SANTOS ROSA for your Vote on July 19th Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti Years! “Same name, phone number & address for over half a century. We must be doing something right!” www.everettaluminum.com (Paid Pol. Adv.) sault Kit Backlog Database, invest in training programs to increase the number of DNA analysts that can process SAKs, and incentivize states to implement electronic evidence tracking systems for SAKs that would provide greater transparency into the testing process for survivors and their advocates. “Survivors of sexual assault are denied justice when DNA evidence sits untested for years. The current backlog in testing the DNA in sexual assault kits results in lost and contaminated evidence and allows criminals to escape accountability. I’m proud to introduce the Backlog Justice Act to establish a national database on backlogs, increase the number of DNA analysts nationwide, and take more critical steps to eliminate the backlog and restore justice,” said Assistant Speaker Clark. It is estimated that there are currently hundreds of thousands of SAKs backlogged in police departments and crime lab facilities across the country. With each passing day, these backlogged SAKs run the risk of becoming contaminated as they go untested for long periods of time. Additionally, it is not uncommon for SAKs to become lost in storage facilities, ensuring that violent criminals remain at-large and sexual assault survivors lose any opportunity for long overdue justice. “Every rape kit that is booked into evidence should be submitted to a crime lab for testing in a timely manner, period. Yet for far too long, our stateby-state patchwork of laws and the failure to implement a National Sexual Assault Kit Backlog Database has allowed violent criminals to fall through the cracks and evade accountability, while sexual assault survivors wait in perpetuity for justice that fails to come,” said Congressman Cleaver. “As we stand with countless courageous survivors across the country who are demanding more from their elected offi cials, I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Backlog Justice Act of 2022 with Rep. Wagner and Assistant Speaker Clark, which will help quickly cut down on the sexual assault kit backlog and provide greater transparency for survivors and their advocates.” “Survivors of sexual assault depend on our justice system to get the support they need and put the criminals who assaulted them behind bars. Any backlog in rape kit testing fails the survivors who bravely reported their assault and are attempting to fi nd justice. I am proud to introduce this legislation that will build on my eff orts to eliminate the rape kit backlog, give survivors the tools they need to recover, and get violent criminals off the streets,” said Representative Wagner. “The Joyful Heart Foundation thanks Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II, Katherine Clark, and Ann Wagner for responding to the national crisis of untested rape kits through legislation that strengthens the nation’s ability to track and ultimately end the rape kit backlog,” said Joyful Heart’s Director of Policy & Advocacy, Ilse Knecht. “Increasing transparency and accountability through a national rape kit tracking system and enhancing DNA analyst training shows signifi cant steps towards creating a justice system that puts survivors fi rst. We also applaud the inclusion of programs aimed at gaining vital information and data about child sexual abuse, an epidemic that aff ects 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States.” “Survivors deserve to have ASSAULT | SEE Page 7 Summer is Here!
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