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APRI Highlights - Summer 2003
Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology
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Chief Administrator, American Prosecutors Research Institute
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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery in 1953 of the structure of DNA—the chemical code of life—by James Watson and Francis Crick. That discovery has revolutionized biology, medicine and crime forensics. Today, the contributions of DNA technology to fairness and accuracy in the nation’s criminal justice system have never been greater, and they continue to increase exponentially. DNA technology is critical to identifying perpetrators of serious crimes, excluding others who might be considered potential suspects, and identifying missing persons and victims of crimes.
The implementation and expansion of DNA technology in our justice system has now become a national priority. The Bush administration and U.S. Department of Justice have taken on this major responsibility with a serious and ambitious plan for the future.
President’s Bush initiative—Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology—includes a commitment of over $1 billion for the next five years. In FY 2004 alone, the initiative proposes $232.6 million in funding to improve DNA technology and its use in our criminal justice system. The funds will be used to reduce backlogs of unanalyzed samples, strengthen crime laboratory capacities, stimulate research and development, and provide training. The benefits of these advancements will be tremendous and far-reaching.
The director of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Sarah Hart, has been spearheading this initiative within the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a couple of years. She has worked closely with the White House Domestic Policy Council, DOJ leadership and key groups within the criminal justice system in developing the initiative and acquiring funding support. The participation, support and contributions from local prosecutors have been critical to this process.
Attorney General John Ashcroft, noting the importance of the implementation of the president’s DNA initiative and the potential of DNA to “improve dramatically the efficacy of the criminal justice system,” extended thanks to the state, local and federal criminal justice experts for their past, present and future assistance in ensuring the success of this initiative. The American Prosecutors Research Institute appreciates the important roles extended to prosecutors by NIJ and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and plans to promote this priority in its research, trainings and assistance to prosecutors across America.
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