Abby Honold Act would establish a demonstration program for trauma-informed training for law enforcement, including training for interviewing victims of sexual assault and investigating sexual assault crimes

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar spoke in the Senate Judiciary Committee today in support of the Abby Honold Act—bipartisan legislation that she introduced with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) that would establish a demonstration program for trauma-informed training for law enforcement, including training for interviewing victims of sexual assault and investigating sexual assault crimes. Today’s hearing was on the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

“I’m in awe of Abby’s ability to turn an incredibly horrific experience into something that could help other survivors,” Klobuchar said. “The Abby Honold Act is focused on victim-centered training for law enforcement so that they have the training they need to avoid victim re-traumatization. It’s a pretty simple concept.”

Klobuchar is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and prior to her time in the Senate, Klobuchar served as Hennepin County Attorney. She is a national leader in the fight to prevent domestic violence. In January, Klobuchar and Cornyn’s SAFER Act—legislation that would reauthorize, strengthen, and extend the Sexual Assault Forensic Registry program in an effort to help reduce the national rape kit backlog—was signed into law. In 2016, the Klobuchar-backed bipartisan Justice for All Reauthorization Act was signed into law. The law strengthens the rights of crime victims by providing the protection they need to restore their lives and enhances law enforcement’s ability to proactively stop violent criminals. The Justice for All Reauthorization Act also aims to reduce the rape kit backlog by supporting grant programs that fund forensic testing. Klobuchar has also championed the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act and led efforts to pass bipartisan legislation supporting survivors of sexual assault in the military.

Click here to download video of Senator Klobuchar: KLOBUCHAR_JUDIC_QA2_032018.mp4

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