USA:

Congress approves DNA testing bill


Congress passed and sent to legislation President Bush on Saturday that
would give rape victims and convicted felons greater access to DNA
testing.

The bill was approved by the House and Senate on voice votes without
dissent. Bush is expected to sign it.

"This bill will have a profoundly positive impact on many people involved
in our criminal justice system," said House Judiciary Chairman James
Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

The bill would provide an additional $350 million to improve legal
representation in death penalty cases. It would ensure access to
post-conviction DNA testing for those serving time in prison or on death
row, and provide $755 million in grants over the next 5 years to clear the
backlog of some 350,000 untested DNA samples in rape evidence kits.

"It's estimated 40 percent of the outstanding rapes could be solved by
comparing the database coming from testing these kits in the existing
database in our state prison systems where DNA's on the record," said Sen.
Joseph Biden, D-Del.

The House passed similar legislation nearly a year ago. In an effort to
win Senate approval, the House added a Senate-written plan that provides
$155 million for victims' assistance programs.

The Justice Department has complained that the bill could limit the use of
DNA testing being done now and may make it more difficult for states
trying to prosecute death penalty cases.

Lawmakers said while the burden will be on prosecutors to show a DNA test
should not be granted during the 1st 5 years after conviction, after that
the burden is on the defense to show it should be conducted.

Victims groups have pushed for the bill, which was inspired by 2 people:
Kirk Bloodsworth of Maryland, who was cleared by DNA testing after
spending 9 years in prison, including two on death row, on rape and murder
charges; and Debbie Smith, a Virginia resident, who waited 6 years for DNA
evidence to identify the man who raped her.

(source: Associated Press)