The DOJ has a new push to support crime victims : NPR

U.S. gymnasts Kaylee Lorincz and Simone Biles embrace after a Senate judicial hearing on the Inspector General’s report on the FBI’s handling of the investigation against Larry Nassar on September 15, 2021. Saul Loeb / Pool / AP Hide caption

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Saul Loeb / Pool / AP

U.S. gymnasts Kaylee Lorincz and Simone Biles embrace after a Senate Court hearing on the Inspector General’s report on the FBI’s handling of the investigation against Larry Nassar on September 15, 2021.

Saul Loeb / Pool / AP

The Justice Department is instructing prosecutors to coordinate with state and local authorities on non-federal indictment cases as part of a broad new push to assist crime victims.

Assistant Attorney General Lisa Monaco outlined the new steps in two memos on Friday, days before she was due to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee to approve the law on violence against women. President Biden has cited this bill as one of the key legislative achievements of his long Senate career, and Monaco worked on legislation as a junior clerk before going to law school.

“When considering filing a federal criminal complaint, we must never forget the people who put their trust in the ministry to protect them,” wrote Monaco. “Preventing violence or harm must be our top priority. Nowhere is this obligation more important than when vulnerable populations – including minors – are at risk. “

The memo follows ardent criticism of the FBI for taking no further action to investigate the disgraced former doctor Larry Nassar, who sexually abused Olympic gymnasts and hundreds of other girls and young women before being convicted and sentenced to decades behind bars became. The Justice Department Inspector General concluded that Nassar had molested at least 70 victims after the FBI first received reports, but failed to act promptly or to report the concern to local Michigan law enforcement.

Gymnast McKayla Maroney told Senators last month that the agent replied, “Is that all?”

In a second memo, Monaco announced it would restart a working group on crime victims and update the Attorney General’s guidelines on victim and witness assistance, which they believe had not been extensively revised in a decade. She asked for recommendations within 120 days.

“The department is committed to protecting the rights of crime victims and treating victims and witnesses with respect in all of our interactions,” wrote Monaco.

Early Friday, Monaco, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta participated in a virtual listening session with members of the National Task Force on Ending Sexual and Domestic Violence.