Booker, Durbin Introduce Rep. Demings' VICTIM Act in Senate

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a Senate companion to Rep. Val Demings' (FL-10) Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Act (VICTIM Act). The VICTIM Act would help improve the murder clearance rate -- the percentage of murder cases solved by law enforcement agencies.

Rep. Demings is a former law enforcement officer and the first female Chief of Police of Orlando, Florida. The VICTIM Act will also be considered tomorrow by the House Judiciary Committee.

Said Rep. Demings, "I am proud to have introduced the VICTIM Act in the House and honored to have the leadership of Senator Booker and Senator Durbin as we work to keep communities safe and put murderers behind bars. Real life is quite different from what you may see on television. I saw as a detective, detective sergeant, and chief of police that gun crimes are oftentimes difficult to investigate and solve. Simply put, many agencies lack the resources they need to bring justice to these cases and closure for families. Half of gun murders in the United States go unsolved, and victims are often left with no justice and little support. This legislation would inject critical new funding into America's law enforcement agencies to hire and train detectives and specialists specifically committed to investigate unsolved crimes, comfort victims, and bring the guilty to justice."

"Gun violence and violent crime must be addressed with an all-hands-on-deck approach," said U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "This bill will help ensure our law enforcement have the tools they need to keep our communities safe, while also supporting victims and their families who are working to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violent crime. I'm proud to join Senator Booker and Representative Demings in introducing this critical bicameral legislation, and I urge our colleagues across the political spectrum to support it."

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a surge in homicidal crimes throughout our country," said Senator Booker. "Due to the lack of federal resources, many agencies, especially in underserved communities from urban to rural, lack the proper resources to solve such heinous crimes. This legislation is crucial in our work to ensure that our law enforcement agencies have the appropriate training and resources to help increase clearance rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings."

The VICTIM Act is endorsed by the following organizations: Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), Major County Chiefs Association (MCCA), National Organization of Black Law (NOBLE), Niskanen Center, and Everytown for Gun Safety.

"The VICTIM Act would establish a grant program to help State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies improve their clearance rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings. Agencies can use these grant funds to train or hire additional detectives, investigators, or other police personnel that can investigate, solve, and respond to homicides and non-fatal shootings," said Patrick Yoes, FOP National President. "These resources will help agencies punish the perpetrators of these crimes, provide justice for the victims and their families, and grant peace of mind to communities that experienced firearms violence."

"The IACP is proud to support the VICTIM Act," said Chief Dwight Henninger, President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. "By providing dedicated resources to law enforcement agencies to enhance their abilities to successfully investigate violent criminal acts, the VICTIM Act will bring justice to victims, remove violent offenders from our communities and bring closure to families. The IACP is grateful for the leadership that Senator Durbin and Senator Booker have shown on this critical issue and for their continuing support of law enforcement and victims of crime."

"The MCCA thanks Senators Booker and Durbin for introducing the VICTIM Act," said Chief Jeri Williams, President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. "As law enforcement continues to respond to increased violent crime, additional resources are needed to address staffing challenges, enhance forensics capabilities, further deploy investigative tools, and bolster victims' services. The VICTIM Act will provide critical grants that will help law enforcement improve clearance rates and ensure those who commit violent crimes are held accountable."

Rep. Demings cosponsored the Invest to Protect Act of 2022, which would establish new federal grants to local police departments with fewer than 200 officers.

Rep. Demings co-led the bipartisan Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act, which was passed into law and is now supporting an active officer mental health program.

Rep. Demings led on The Law Enforcement Protection Act to protect law enforcement officers from concealable armor-piercing weapons, and the Protecting Our Communities Act, to protect law enforcement officers and the public from high-powered, rapid-firing and untraceable weapons.

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