Right On Crime supports the sound policies of S. 3763, the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods Act, also known as the VICTIM Act. This legislation would authorize funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to hire and retain homicide detectives and violent crime investigators and improve evidence processing. It would also expand access to resources for victims of violent crimes and families of homicide victims.
“Improving clearance rates is essential to building and protecting public safety and supporting our law enforcement,” wrote Brett Tolman, Right On Crime Executive Director and former U.S. Attorney in a letter to Congress. “This bipartisan legislation will improve clearance rates so that crimes in the United States can be solved and closure and justice can be restored to victims and their families.”
Although violent crime across the nation is going down, almost half of homicides and violent crimes go unsolved every year. In fact, between 2019 and 2022, murder clearance rates fell from 61% in 2019 to 53%, marking an all-time low. And for all violent crimes, the clearance rate went from almost 46% in 2019 to 36.7% in 2022, a decline that has impacted rural and urban communities alike.
“The VICTIM Act will help law enforcement nationwide solve homicides and violent crimes more effectively by setting up a grant program and developing best practices,” said Rachel Wright, Right On Crime National Director. “The VICTIM Act also effectively utilizes taxpayer dollars, with robust accountability measures.”