North Charlotte Today

Senator Thom Tillis and his colleagues have introduced the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological Investigative Methods (VICTIM) Act, a bill aimed at assisting law enforcement agencies in solving crimes and improving clearance rates for homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. The legislation proposes the establishment of a grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide resources to state, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies.

According to Senator Tillis, the goal of the VICTIM Act is to reduce the number of unsolved homicide cases and make communities safer. He states, "Far too many homicide cases go unsolved, leaving families of victims without answers or justice." By allocating necessary resources to law enforcement agencies, this bipartisan legislation aims to address this issue and bring closure to victims' families.

Various organizations have expressed their support for the bill, including the Fraternal Order of Police, Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA), Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA), the Niskanen Center, and Arnold Ventures. Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, emphasizes the importance of providing dedicated resources to clearing these crimes, stating, "The resources the VICTIM Act would provide would improve the ability of law enforcement agencies to punish the perpetrators of these crimes, provide justice for the victims and their families, and grant peace of mind for communities and the dedicated law enforcement officers that serve them."

The VICTIM Act aims to assist local law enforcement agencies in various ways. It proposes to train detectives and police personnel to effectively investigate and respond to homicides and non-fatal shootings. Additionally, the bill seeks to hire additional detectives and investigative personnel, invest in necessary crime-solving technology, and provide training for police personnel to address the needs of victims and family members of homicides and firearm-related violent crimes. Furthermore, the VICTIM Act aims to provide victims and their families with mental health resources, as well as assistance with shelter, wage, and relocation costs.

To ensure transparency and accountability, the bill requires recipients of VICTIM Act grants to report their use of the funds to the DOJ. The DOJ would then collect and provide this information to Congress.

The full text of the VICTIM Act is available for review on the DOJ's website.

With the introduction of the VICTIM Act, Senator Tillis and his colleagues aim to provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary support and resources to solve more crimes, improve clearance rates, and ultimately make communities safer.