SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 48
94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Whereas, DNA technology is increasingly vital to ensuring accuracy and fairness in the criminal justice system, but is not yet considered a routine tool for criminal identification by law enforcement; and
Whereas, over 50,000 law enforcement investigations have already been aided nationwide because of DNA matches made through the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), bringing justice to victims and removing criminals from the streets; and
Whereas, the Innocence Project has used DNA in over 200 cases to exonerate persons who were wrongfully convicted of crimes; and
Whereas, the State of Missouri and other states throughout the nation have significantly expanded their DNA programs to include a growing number of convicted and arrested felons to match against unsolved crimes; and
Whereas, the demand for DNA testing in both violent and non-violent crimes has continued to increase as the reliability of this evidence is proven; and
Whereas, many laboratories still maintain DNA backlogs of six months or longer and are unable to meet the growing demand for DNA testing despite funding commitments from state and local governments; and
Whereas, the Debbie Smith DNA backlog grant program has permitted state and local governments an opportunity to begin to maximize the full potential of forensic DNA through backlog reduction, but much work remains to be done:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-fourth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby urge the United States Congress to reauthorize the Debbie Smith DNA backlog grant program at current or increased levels; and
Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for the presiding officers of each chamber of Congress and to each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.