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Debbie Smith Act Legislation
"The Debbie Smith
Act," H.R. 1046 in the 108th Congress, does the following:
DIRECTS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF RAPE KITS:
Requires the Attorney General to do an exact tally of the rape kit
backlog. The estimates now range from 160,000 to 500,000 kits
nationwide. In order to combat the problem of backlog, we should have a
better estimate of how many we are dealing with.
PROVIDES MONEY TO ADDRESS THE BACKLOG:
Authorizes $15 million per year from this fiscal year through 2008 to
test offender DNA samples. It also authorizes $75 million per year from
this year through 2007 for testing crime scene evidence which will help
eliminate the extensive backlog in rape kits, strengthen insufficient
laboratory equipment and inadequate staffing, keep pace with the
ever-expanding amount of offender samples to be tested
DEVELOPS PROTOCAL FOR DNA EVIDENCE COLLECTION:
Calls on the Department of Justice to develop a national protocol fro the collection of DNA evidence and will also ensure that states applying for funds will comply with
FBI quality protocols.
GIVES GRANTS TO ESTABLISH AND
MAINTAIN SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINER PROGRAMS
TRAINS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
PROSECUTORS TO HANDLE DNA EVIDENCE AND HOW TO USE DNA EVIDENCE IN
COURTROOMS
More information and full text of the Debbie Smith Act: H.R. 1046 in the 108th Congress.
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