Contact: Louisa Tavlas
Mobile: 571-527-6403
Email: ltavlas@niskanencenter.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. February 8, 2024 — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D, NJ) and John Kennedy (R, LA), along with co-sponsors Sens. Dick Durbin (D, IL) and Tom Tillis (R, NC), reintroduced the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Act (VICTIM Act), S. 3763, in the U.S. Senate. On Friday, Representatives Don Bacon (R, NE) and Dwight Evans (D, PA) will introduce a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Niskanen Center is honored to have worked with these sponsors to develop this critical legislation.

The VICTIM Act authorizes $360 million in funding over six years to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire and retain homicide detectives and violent crime investigators and improve evidence processing, among other items. It would also expand access to resources for victims of violent crimes and families of homicide victims.

“The impacts of homicides on families and communities are devastating. Yet half of all homicide cases in the United States go unsolved,” said Sen. Booker. “We have a duty to do more to address this injustice. The VICTIM Act will provide law enforcement agencies with the resources they need to improve clearance rates and make our communities safer. I’m grateful to my colleagues across the aisle for their support and to our partners at the Niskanen Center for their expertise in helping us develop this critical legislation.”

“I’m thankful for the Niskanen Center’s support of the VICTIM Act, which will help law enforcement solve more crimes and bring criminals to justice throughout the country,” said Sen. Kennedy.

“The VICTIM Act will give law enforcement the resources necessary to catch criminals who terrorize American neighborhoods without fear of consequences,” said Greg Newburn, Niskanen’s director of criminal justice. He added, “This legislation will help put an end to criminal impunity nationwide.” 

“I support the VICTIM Act because it grants funding to ensure more homicide and non-fatal shooting cases can be solved,” said Rep. Bacon. “Through this grant, personnel will receive improved training covering reporting and investigating. Necessary technology will allow agencies to be more effective and precise while handling these sensitive cases.This act ultimately benefits individual families, law enforcement, and Nebraska as a whole, and I appreciate Niskanen’s work advocating for this important bill.”

Rep. Evans said, “I greatly appreciate the Niskanen Center’s vital work in helping to bring together a bipartisan coalition in support of the VICTIM Act to help solve shooting cases, increase safety, and help victims.”

In addition to the Niskanen Center, the VICTIM Act is also endorsed by the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major Counties Sheriffs of America, the Fraternal Order of Police, Arnold Ventures, and the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies. The full text can be accessed here. 

The Niskanen Center is a 501(c)(3) advocacy organization established in 2015 to change public policy through direct engagement in the policymaking process.

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Photo: aijohn via iStock