Support the Crime Lab Project

Normally I try to keep the PSA quotient here low, but when Jan Burke sent word of the current status of the Crime Lab Project, it was a no-brainer to do what I could to help by spreading the word:

Three e-mails.  U.S. public forensic science labs urgently need you to send three
e-mails.  One to each of your Senators, one to your Representative in the House, urging
support of FY06 Appropriations bill Senate Report 109-88.  (Be sure to include your name and address on any e-mails you send to Congress.)

   This past year hundreds of news stories have appeared about the problems facing our
public forensic science labs:  stories of backlogs, of equipment and staff shortages, of
overcrowded working conditions in outdated facilities — but worse, of justice delayed or
failed, of individuals suffering or lives lost because we did not provide support for
forensic science in the U.S.

    The country loves CSI, we watch the Forensic Files every week, and we don’t fund the
labs these shows are about.  The result is real-life tragedy.

    You can help change that by supporting full funding for the Paul Coverdell Forensics
Science Technology Act.  This law allows Congress to provide desperately needed funds for public forensic science labs and medical examiners offices.  Today we are at a critical
point in the legislative process to obtain funds — the empty "bank account" was created
in 2000 with unanimous support in the House and Senate.  Now we need Congress to deposit funds in the account.  That can happen if Congress supports FY06 Appropriations bill Senate Report 109-88.

If you need more information on the Coverdell Act, you can find it on the Crime Lab
Project Web site at http://crimelabproject.com/act.html

More information on sample letters and specific contact address can be found at the Crime Lab Project’s website.