Last night, the House passed Congressman John Carter’s (TX-31) Justice Served Act, a bill that will direct funding to state and local jurisdictions to aid in the prosecution of violent criminals who have been identified through newly discovered DNA evidence.

“For far too long, victims of cold cases have gone without justice, and violent criminals have been able to hide because of the DNA backlog. Due to the Debbie Smith Act, labs have been able to reduce the backlog, but now prosecutors are in need of resources to prosecute the suspects that are discovered through this new DNA evidence,” Congressman Carter said. “The Justice Served Act will give prosecutors the capacity to bring justice to cold cases. DNA evidence is only beneficial if we have the resources to prosecute the offenders.

“As a former judge of 20 years, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is that our prosecutors have the resources they need to put criminals behind bars, not only to provide closure for victims and their families, but to get violent individuals off the streets and keep our communities safe. I hope that with the passage of this bill, many families and victims will be able to see justice served.”

Under H.R. 4854, the Justice Served Act, the Department of Justice must allocate a percentage of grant funding to prosecutors for the purpose of prosecuting criminals discovered through DNA evidence.

Rep. Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest active duty armored military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, co-chairman of the Congressional Army Caucus, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

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