Alliance: Newsletter: January 2004: Policy Update
Newsletter: January 2004: Policy Update
New York CityDignity In All Schools Act (DASA-NYC)
See “[1] Connecting the Dots,” in this issue.
New York State
All Felons
All Felons would require that all convicted felony offenders must register in the New York State DNA database. Currently, only 65% of convicted felons are registered. The goal is to have 100% of convicted felons registered.
Dignity For All Student Act (DASA)
DASA (A01118-Sanders/S01925-Duane), introduced last year, would authorize the commissioner of education to establish policies and procedures that will combat bullying, discrimination, and harassment based on race, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex. The effort is to prevent further violence by addressing the issue before it reaches a critical mass. The act also supports rape crisis programs with their endeavor to provide school based education on the topic of sexual harassment.
Statute of Limitations
A bill introduced last year in the Assembly (A02905-Klein) would eliminate the statute of limitations on class B felonies for all sexual offenses in the State of New York. Removing the five year statute of limitations for rape and sodomy in the first degree (cases involving the use of force or extremely young victims) will help to ensure that sexual predators are held accountable for their actions, no matter how long it takes to bring them to justice. Improved DNA technology has made it easier for law enforcement agencies to identify perpetrators of past crimes that were once thought to be unsolvable.
National
Justice Through DNA Technology
The Advancing Justice Through DNA Act (H.R.3214, S.1700) has passed the House but not the Senate. The Act authorizes $1 billion over 5 years to test backlogs of DNA samples, develop new DNA technology, provide post-conviction testing to exonerate the innocent, and more. $755 million is earmarked for rape kit backlog testing, and $150 million for sexual assault examiners, programs, equipment, etc. The bill authorizes spending, but does not appropriate funds. However Congress did appropriate $100 million for backlog testing in 2004, which advocates see as an indicator of commitment.
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[1]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/about_newsletter_article148.html
[2]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_column_4.html
[3]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_article_151.html
[4]: http://www.nycagainstrape.org/home/nycaasa/stage.nycagainstrape.org/newsletter_article_155.html
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