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In the News: North America
$41 million to help reduce rape kit backlog
About $41 million has been earmarked to help expedite the nationwide processing of rape kits, which preserve evidence of sexual assault.
A new state law gives defendants who plead guilty a chance to use DNA evidence to clear their name if the evidence were not available during trial.
In 2011, the Attorney General recommended that all old evidence collection kits be tested. The results have been stunning.
Processing the rape kit backlog, and giving survivors back dignity
The Virginia General Assembly unanimously passed legislation and funding in the 2014 session to conduct an inventory of the state's backlog of rape kits and begin processing them - and begin restoring dignity to rape survivors.
Brianna's Law, or DNA testing for felony arrests, begins in Nevada
The bill, named after Reno murder victim Brianna Denison, requires law enforcement officers to take a DNA swab test for all felony arrests.
New Mississippi state DNA law could help wrongly convicted
DNA collections from individuals arrested for violent crime could help solve crime and it could exonerate those wrongly convicted.
New law: Iowa to expand DNA collection from criminals
The implementation of the law that calls for collecting DNA samples from people convicted of aggravated misdemeanors has reignited a debate over how to maintain the proper balance between community safety and constitutional freedoms.
Rhode Island passes violent crime arrestee law
The RI governor signs bill into law that would require a DNA sample to be collected from anyone arrested for a violent crime.
Vermont court: No DNA collection until conviction
The Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the state can't collect DNA from suspects in criminal cases unless they have been convicted of a felony.
Law enforcement agencies finally find second solution for faster DNA testing
DNA testing in Burlington, NC to solve break-ins and property crimes can finally go ahead.
New North Louisiana Forensic Science Center rapidly rising
New facility will house multiple forensics disciplines under one roof.
Calgary police chief presses case for DNA lab
Calgary's police chief says an in-house DNA lab would cut down the turnaround time for results, allow investigators to use the technology for a wider range of crimes, and help identify perpetrators more quickly before they can commit further crimes.
WVU establishes Department of Forensic and Investigative Science
Recognizing the growth during the past 20 years of forensic and investigative sciences as a career path, West Virginia University, long a national leader in the field, has established the Department of Forensic and Investigative Science.
New State Police Forensics Lab Director appointed
Maryland State Police announced a veteran forensic scientist with a broad range of expertise including DNA technology has been appointed as the new crime laboratory director.
NIST names OSAC Resource Committees
As part of its efforts to improve the scientific basis of forensic evidence used in courts of law, NIST and DOJ have made the first appointments to a new organization dedicated to identifying and fostering development and adoption of standards and guidelines for the nation's forensic science community.
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