The California Women’s Law Center (CWLC) supports California State Assembly Bill 1517 authored by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner.

AB 1517 will provide guidelines for law enforcement and crime laboratories when they process forensic evidence from rape kits and enter DNA profile information about perpetrators into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the FBI’s DNA database.

DNA is a powerful tool for identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of sexual violence.  Despite the potentially decisive evidence rape kits can provide, thousands sit unprocessed in California’s crime labs and evidence lockers.  A survivor who consents to a forensic examination after a sexual assault reasonably expects evidence collected from that exam to be analyzed. Untested rape kits are lost opportunities to develop DNA profiles, search for matches, link cold cases, prosecute offenders and ensure the right individual is convicted. Delays in testing can be a barrier when survivors file criminal charges or can prevent charges from being filed in the first place.

AB 1517 WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR ON 9/30/14.

SAY THANK YOU: to the Governor for signing AB 1517.
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