Justice for All Re-authorization Act introduced in Senate:

On September 27, 2010, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Al Franken (D-MN), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Justice for All Re-authorization Act of 2010. S. 3842 makes modest changes to the Crime Victims Rights Act, providing victims a right to be informed of their legal rights and given contact information for the Office of the Victims' Rights Ombudsman, and clarifying the applicability of the Act to the District of Columbia. The bill also amends and reauthorizes provisions relating to federal funding to address the backlog of DNA evidence. It authorizes grants to train law enforcement, improve local practices, develop evidence tracking systems, and take other steps to ensure the processing of DNA evidence. The bill also requires the Department of Justice to develop practices and protocols for the processing of DNA evidence and provide technical assistance to State and local governments to implement those protocols. The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Legislation:

On September 22, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported out the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act of 2010. S. 2925 would create block grants to state or local governments to support shelter and services for domestic minor sex trafficking victims and to provide training for law enforcement and social service agencies to help them combat domestic minor sex trafficking. It would promote the development of model state laws that protect children exploited through prostitution by prohibiting the prosecution of minors for prostitution and mandating that such minors be referred to assistance programs. The bill would also provide for the issuance of protective orders prohibiting harassment or intimidation of minor victims or witnesses involved in a Federal criminal case or investigation. The bill now goes to the full Senate for consideration.

BHTC