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It's Not CSI Out
There!
American Crime Labs
Need Your Help!
The CSI shows are exciting, entertaining dramas
and have done a lot to make the public aware
of the potential of forensic science. That's
terrific.
But let's talk reality, not television: in truth,
most American crime labs are under-funded, operating
in aging facilities without the latest equipment,
and are vastly under-staffed. More than one
out of four labs do not have basic computers
for processing and tracking evidence.
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What
is the Crime Lab Project?
We are a group of writers, producers, and concerned
members of the public who are working together
to obtain better funding for forensic science
labs. The Crime Lab Project does not collect
dues or donations. We ask those who want to
be a part of the project to sign up for our
mailing
list (Jan Burke's site), and take action
on behalf of crime labs. Anyone who is willing
to do so may become a member of the Crime Lab
Project.
What does the Crime
Lab Project do?
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Works to increase awareness
of the problems facing America's severely
under-funded crime labs. |
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Increases awareness of the costs and
dangers that under-supported labs create
for law enforcement, the judicial process,
and national security; as well as the
toll on crime victims and their families. |
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Takes action to ensure that crime labs
are adequately funded. |
How is the Crime Lab Project doing
this?
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By urging local, state,
and federal representatives to provide
better funding for crime labs-for all
aspects of the scientific examination
of evidence: DNA, fingerprints, trace
evidence, firearms examination, tool mark
evidence, toxicology, pathology, and other
areas which are essential to the important
work accomplished by these labs. |
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By bring public attention to the needs
of crime labs through our Web sites, mailing
lists, and speaking engagements. |
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By providing news and info about the
current state of forensic science labs.
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We continue to
work to convince Congress to FUND the Paul
Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Act of
2000. Congress has created a bank account
for forensic science labs, but so far, has deposited
only a fraction of the authorized
funds! The need for funding is urgent. Recently,
our efforts have helped labs obtain Coverdell
funds for the first time since the law was enacted.
We need your support to ensure final approval,
and to obtain additional funding for Coverdell.
We are pleased that DNA funding has been approved
in separate bills, but our legislators need
to hear a clear message from us: DNA isn't the
only area that needs funding -- Coverdell
deserves their support!
What is the Paul
Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Act?
Click
Here to find out!
What
else is new about the Crime Lab Project?
In addition to the occasional newsletters we
send through our
mailing list (Jan Burke's site), we have
established an e-mail list-- CLPNews@yahoogroups.com
-- for receiving news about crime labs and forensic
science. These free digests are sent out twice
weekly. Sign up to receive them through the
Yahoo Groups Web page, or send a
blank e-mail to CLPNews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
(Jan Burke's site).
The
Crime Lab Project Asks You to Act Now to Help
Crime Labs!
PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL* YOUR TWO U.S. SENATORS
AND YOUR MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
ASK THEM TO CONTINUE TO FUND THE COVERDELL NATIONAL
FORENSIC SCIENCES ACT OF 2000.
*(Due to anti-anthrax measures, letters mailed
through the post office will not reach your
representative in time, if at all.)
WHAT IS THE COVERDELL ACT?
The Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Act
was passed, unanimously, by both the House and
Senate in the year 2000, and signed into law.
Of the $135 million authorized, only $15 million
has been appropriated. That means only 11% of
the funds have been given to crime labs.
Here are the facts from the Consortium
of Forensic Science Organizations* Request:
Support full funding for the Paul Coverdell
National Forensic Sciences Act of 2000 at the
authorized level of $135 million.
Why Support the Paul Coverdell National
Forensic Sciences Act of 2000?
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It is the only
mechanism which ensures that much needed
money is provided to all state and local
laboratories, which analyze over 90% of
all forensic cases in the United States |
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Only the Coverdell Act allows funding
to go to where most desperately needed. |
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The current funding mechanisms are earmarked
so heavily that many states do not receive
funds, and thus are shutting down labs
and ME's offices. |
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DNA analysis and DNA backlog reduction
funds support only 5% of labs' work. |
Justification:
The American Society of Crime Laboratories conducted
a survey in 2003 of state and local forensic
laboratories, which pointed out some of the
critical needs of our nation's forensic community:
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9000 more forensic scientists
needed |
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$1.3 billion needed for facility modernization
and construction |
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26% of forensic laboratories are without
basic computer systems to track evidence |
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$285 million needed by laboratories
for equipment. |
*The CFSO's highly respected member organizations
include the American Society of Crime Lab Directors,
the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the
International Association for Identification,
the National Association of Medical Examiners,
the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors
- Laboratory Accreditation Board, and Forensic
Quality Services (the latter two offer laboratory
accreditation programs for crime labs).
HOW TO HELP
YOUR STATE AND LOCAL CRIME LABS
Your three phone calls or e-mails can
make a difference!
E-mail or call your three Congressional representatives
to tell them that it is important to
you that Coverdell receives more funding.
(Because of anti-anthrax measures, letters are
delayed and do not always reach Congress.) If
you don't know who your representatives are,
you can find their offices listed in the government
section of your phone book, or visit www.house.gov
for the House of Representatives and www.senate.gov
for your two Senators.
DON'T
BE AFRAID TO CALL OR E-MAILYOUR SENATORS AND
REPRESENTATIVE!
They work for you, they're spending your taxes
- let them know that crime labs are important
to you!
Here's a sample letter
for e-mailing or to help with a call:
Dear [Title -- "Senator" or if a representative,
"Mr." "Mrs." or "Ms."] [Last Name of the
Member of Congress]
Please support funding of the
Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences
Act of 2000 at the fully authorized
level of $135 million.
Continued funding of the Coverdell Act
is urgently needed by crime labs. These
labs handle 90% of all criminal cases
in the United States. Funding Coverdell
will make a critical difference in forensic
sciences in the U.S.
The current focus is on DNA backlog funding.
DNA processing represents only 5% of the
work done by labs. While DNA funding is
important, Coverdell funding is needed
to meet the overall needs of labs - including
the processing of DNA.
The Department of Justice has found that
public crime labs ended 2002 with over
500,000 backlogged cases in all areas
of evidence examination. A survey of labs,
by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors,
revealed that labs were severely understaffed,
operating in outdated or inadequate facilities,
and that more than one out of four labs
are without basic computer systems for
tracking evidence. Even worse, many medical
examiners' offices are closing due to
lack of funds.
Because of this, victims and their families
wait months, or years, for lab results,
cases are lost or never brought to trial,
evidence is mishandled, and criminals
remain at large. These problems ultimately
affect the welfare and safety of the entire
country, including homeland security.
Funding of the Coverdell Act should be
a high priority. I expect that you will
join me in the effort to make it so.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Address
City, State,ZIP |
Please note that it is not
enough to only put your name and e-mail address
on the message -- the member of Congress will
respond better to a message with a complete
address, especially if you live in his or her
district or state.
Please let us know whom you contacted and when
by sending an e-mail to crime@crimelabproject.com,
so that we can follow up with your representatives.
VISIT
WWW.CRIMELABPROJECT.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Jan Burke, Founder.
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