TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CNS) — More than 26 million Americans have voluntarily submitted their DNA for analysis, but a loophole in federal law could allow some insurance companies to get the genetic information.
Comments Off on Lawmakers seek to block insurance companies from access to DNA tests
Posted in DNA Legislation
A new law that took effect on Jan. 1 will allow better access to post-conviction DNA testing for people who say they’ve been wrongfully convicted of aggravated murder and other serious crimes.
The new measure amends statutes previously introduced in 2015 that said someone requesting a DNA test would have to show that specific evidence would lead to finding that they were “actually innocent,” in effect having to vouch for their innocence before DNA could even be tested.
Comments Off on New Oregon Law Opens Up Process For Post-conviction DNA Testing
Posted in DNA Legislation, Innocence Project
President Donald Trump signed legislation Monday that allocates funding to help states clear the backlog of more than 100,000 rape kits across the country, ending several years of nationwide initiatives to get federal support.
Comments Off on Trump Reauthorizes Debbie Smith Act To Eliminate Rape Kit Backlogs Across U.S.
Posted in DNA Legislation, Forensic Industry News
The bill in question would create a standard procedure for collecting DNA evidence in sexual assault cases in Wisconsin, with the hope being that this could prevent a backlog of sexual assault kits in the future.
Comments Off on Kaul Pushes For Hearing On Sexual Assault Kit Bill
Posted in Backlogs, DNA Legislation
San Francisco—The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today to obtain information that will shine a light on the agency’s use of Rapid DNA technology on migrant families at the border to verify biological parent-child relationships.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney’s (D-NY) H.R. 777 – Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019. This bipartisan bill was introduced with Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R-MO) in January.
Comments Off on Maloney Hails Passage of Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act
Posted in Backlogs, Cold Cases, Database, DNA Legislation, Forensic Industry News, Funding
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is planning to collect DNA samples from asylum-seekers and other migrants detained by immigration officials and will add the information to a massive FBI database used by law enforcement hunting for criminals, a Justice Department official said.
Comments Off on US taking step to require DNA of asylum-seekers
Posted in DNA Legislation, Forensic Industry News, Immigration
Wisconsin would adopt a new bill of rights for sexual assault victims under a proposal in the state Legislature.
Under the bill, victims of sexual assault would be guaranteed a number of rights, including the right to choose whether or not to undergo a forensic examination and the right to be notified before any evidence from that examination is destroyed.
The rights would be afforded in addition to those already guaranteed under state law for all crime victims.
Comments Off on Wisconsin Lawmakers Consider Sexual Assault Victims Bill Of Rights
Posted in DNA Legislation
A woman whose daughter was murdered three decades ago has said she is running out of time to find out where the body is.
Comments Off on Helen’s Law ‘may come too late’, says victim’s mother
Posted in DNA Legislation, Forensic Industry News
Our exclusive three-month 5 On Your Side Investigation reveals how Ohio fails sexual assault victims. We uncovered dozens of cases that will never be prosecuted, despite compelling DNA evidence, because of Ohio’s current statute of limitations.
Comments Off on Despite DNA evidence, statute of limitations prevents prosecution of Ohio rape cases
Posted in Backlogs, Cold Cases, Database, DNA Legislation
It’s the largest DNA forensic conference in the world and it’s in our own backyard. The International Symposium on Human Identification is a place where the most respected in the industry can talk about emerging technologies.
The biggest topic on the agenda this year is forensic genealogy. Forensic genealogy is law enforcement going after unsolved crimes by utilizing databases through genealogy sites like Ancestory.com.
Comments Off on DOJ Announces Forensic Genealogy Guidelines At Palm Springs Conference
Posted in Ancestry, DNA Legislation, Forensic Industry News
On Aug. 15, 2016, landscapers working along Plamondon Road in an unincorporated area near Wheaton found the dead, full-term newborn in a backpack along the roadside. Since then, the DuPage County sheriff’s office has been investigating to learn the identity of the baby and what happened to her.
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Friday that makes Illinois the eighth state to remove time restrictions on prosecuting crimes of sexual violence.
The Democrat signed into law a measure that lifts a 10-year statute of limitations on pressing charges in felony cases of sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Comments Off on Illinois becomes 8th state to lift sex-crime prosecution time limit
Posted in DNA Legislation, Forensic Industry News
BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — After three years of implementing regulations around the testing and tracking of sexual assault evidence kits, law went into place on Monday that mandates the testing of all kits, with very rare exceptions.
Genetic testing companies are forming a new coalition on best practices for handling DNA information and to promote the industry in Washington as lawmakers put more scrutiny on their privacy practices.
Three companies — Ancestry, 23andMe and Helix, which provide DNA testing and analysis — formed the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection, first reported by The Hill.
Comments Off on DNA testing companies launch new privacy coalition
Posted in Ancestry, DNA Legislation
Try in our lab
Confidence Comes From Clear Vision
RSS Feed