REP. DEMINGS INTRODUCES VICTIM ACT

Statement

Today Rep. Val Demings (FL-10), a former 27-year police officer and Chief of the Orlando Police Department, introduced the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act. The legislation would establish a Department of Justice grant program to hire, train, and retain detectives and victim services personnel to investigate shootings and support victims. The legislation has strong support from professional law enforcement researchers and organizations (see quotes below).

Said Rep. Demings, "real life isn't like CSI: Miami. I saw as a law enforcement officer, detective, and chief of police that gun crimes are oftentimes difficult to investigate and solve. Simply put, many agencies lack the resources they need to bring justice to these cases and closure for families. Half of gun murders in the United States go unsolved, and victims are often left with no justice and little support. This legislation would inject critical new funding into America's law enforcement agencies to hire and train detectives and specialists specifically committed to investigate unsolved crimes, comfort victims, and bring the guilty to justice.

"I vividly recall as a law enforcement officer standing over the bodies of young Floridians who had been victims of gun crimes, knowing that their families would soon receive devastating news. Today, the murder rate is rising, and more and more cases go unsolved. Unsolved gun crimes are unacceptable for the victims and their families, and leaving violent criminals on the streets is unacceptable for the communities we are trying to protect. We can do better, and this legislation will give our law enforcement agencies the resources they need to track down violent criminals and keep Floridians safe."

Said Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-03), "Helping our state and local police solve more fatal and non-fatal shooting cases would be a huge win for public safety in Philadelphia and across the country -- district attorneys can't bring cases that don't reach them, so this would help make our neighborhoods safer. As someone who has pushed for help for victims of gun violence, I'm also very pleased that this bill would provide victims and family members with mental health resources and assistance with shelter, wage, and relocation costs. I'm proud to co-lead this much-needed legislation with Rep. Demings -- her long experience in law enforcement has been so vital in Congress."

Said Rep. Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), "As a young officer working in Chicago, I had to knock on the doors of too many mothers and tell them their child had been lost to an act of senseless violence. Through targeted funding increases for our hardworking local and tribal police departments, this bill will help to hire, train, and keep good detectives and victim services workers to better provide the needed resources to catch criminals. In short, our legislation will help bring closure to families and justice to courtrooms."

Said Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), "Gun violence and homicide rates are on the rise, but the percentage of cases solved by law enforcement agencies is falling. Communities of color are disproportionately represented in cases that go unsolved, which is unjust and diminishes trust between communities of color and the police. We must ensure that law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to solve crimes and bring justice to victims and their families. Additionally, we need to do more to support victims and their families as they rebuild their lives after being impacted by gun violence. The VICTIM Act will do just that by providing victims and family members with mental health resources and assistance with shelter, lost wages and relocation costs. I am proud to be introducing this legislation with Rep. Demings, a former police chief, to help law enforcement solve crimes and improve outcomes for victims."

Said Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03), "Last year, we saw an increase in homicides and gun-related crime all across the U.S. -- including in Iowa. In fact, Iowa saw an 80% jump in homicides in 2020 -- a statistic that should frankly stop any Iowan in their tracks. I know our police departments are working around the clock to solve these crimes, and it's critical that they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe and support the families affected. Our legislation, the VICTIM Act, would directly help our law enforcement improve public safety while also helping victims and their families."

Said Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), "We must ensure our law enforcement have the tools they need to solve violent crime. I am proud to join Rep. Demings to introduce a bill that will help hire detectives, train personnel, and address the needs of victims and family members as we continue our work to keep communities safe."