Bipartisan bill would crack down on violent crime & bring justice to families of homicide victims
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to crack down on violent crime has passed the U.S. Senate.
Sens. Ossoff and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)’s bipartisan Justice for Murder Victims Act would help prosecute violent criminals and bring justice to homicide victims and their families. The bipartisan bill would eliminate the old and arbitrary “year-and-a-day” rule, which prohibits homicide prosecution if the victim dies more than a year and a day from the date of the attack or incident.
Many states have already abolished the rule, which dates back to the 13th century, for state prosecutions, but Sens. Ossoff and Grassley’s bill would eliminate it for Federal cases nationwide — ensuring justice for homicide victims and their families.
“Murderers and violent criminals must be held accountable. The Senate passed our bipartisan legislation to help secure justice for homicide victims and their families,” Sen. Ossoff said.
“The power of modern medicine shouldn’t determine whether a murderer is held accountable. Our bipartisan bill would put an end to the archaic ‘year-and-a-day’ rule to ensure justice is served and families get the closure they deserve,” Grassley said. “I urge my colleagues in the House to swiftly pass this commonsense bill.”
The Justice for Murder Victims Act is endorsed by the National District Attorney’s Association, the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, the Murder Accountability Project, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Click here to read the Justice for Murder Victims Act.
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