The Justice for All Reauthorization Act 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

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that bipartisan legislation that she has backed to strengthen the criminal justice system passed the Senate this week and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The Justice for All Reauthorization Act 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 bill also aims to reduce the rape kit backlog by supporting grant programs that fund forensic testing.

“As a former prosecutor, I know firsthand how important the integrity of our criminal justice system is,” said Klobuchar. “With the President’s signature, this critical bipartisan bill will help restore the lives of crime victims, give law enforcement the tools to stop violent crimes, and provide resources to cut down on the rape kit backlog. I look forward to continuing working with both Democrats and Republicans to bring perpetrators to justice and get victims support."

The legislation strengthens crime victims’ rights in the courtroom, increases access to restitution and restorative services, and reauthorizes important law enforcement investigative programs. The bill would help reduce the nationwide rape kit backlog and provide resources for forensic labs while protecting the innocent by improving access to post-conviction DNA testing. 

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. Last year, the bipartisan Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which Klobuchar sponsored with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), was signed into law. This legislation will help law enforcement further crack down on human traffickers, while bringing about greater restitution and justice for victims, and includes a provision Klobuchar authored to help ensure that minors sold for sex aren’t prosecuted as defendants, but are instead treated as victims. Klobuchar was also a cosponsor of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act which contained many important changes to the previous law, such as consolidating duplicative programs and streamlining others; providing greater flexibility for how communities use resources; and including new training requirements for people providing legal assistance to victims.

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