Federal Funding to Clear Rape Kit Backlog Reauthorized
Federal funding is a key resource in helping state and local law enforcement clear a backlog of untested DNA collected in rape and sexual assault kits.
Now, legislation that would continue the federal grant program was signed into law by President Biden.
The legislation reauthorizes the Debbie Smith Act through fiscal year (FY) 2029.
The Debbie Smith Act, originally passed in 2004, provides support to law enforcement and crime labs in all 50 states. It helps them analyze untested rape and sexual assault kits, improves timely collection of DNA evidence, and enhances the ability of the cases to go to trial. Money can also be used to run offender DNA samples against evidence in unsolved crimes.
Senator John Cornyn and Senator Amy Klobuchar led the charge on the bipartisan legislation in the Senate.
“Examining DNA evidence is a critical step in achieving justice for sexual assault survivors, but many law enforcement agencies don’t have the resources to work through the rape kit backlog in a timely manner,” said Senator Cornyn (R-TX). “This legislation will empower law enforcement to solve these heinous crimes and give survivors the closure they deserve, and I’m glad to see it become law.”
“By reauthorizing the critical Debbie Smith Act, our legislation will provide law enforcement officers with additional resources to process untested rape kits and other DNA evidence, helping them bring more criminals to justice,” said Senator Klobuchar (D-MN).
The Debbie Smith Act was named for Debbie Smith, who survived a sexual assault in her home in 1989 and has become an advocate for DNA testing and victims’ rights. The DNA evidence in Smith’s case was not tested for five years. The suspect was eventually brought to trial and convicted.
“This bill solves crimes from the past while working in the present and building for the future. But most of all, it offers justice, resolution, and peace for victims. That is our government working at its best!” said Smith.
More than 860,000 DNA cases have been processed and more than 376,000 DNA profiles have been added to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), since the Debbie Smith Act first became law.