WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Senator Susan Collins has joined with a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce legislation that would improve the use of DNA technology to solve crimes and protect the innocent. The bill, "Advancing Justice through DNA Testing," contains the Innocence Protection Act, a comprehensive package that offers a range of solutions - including access to post-conviction DNA testing - to help reduce the risk of innocent people being executed. Post-conviction DNA testing has exonerated more than 130 people, more than a dozen of whom were on death row. "Our legislation requires logical safeguards to be put in place to prevent wrongful convictions," said Senator Collins. "Its two most important provisions compel DNA testing where it can yield evidence of innocence and put in place a new process to ensure defendants receive competent counsel in death penalty cases."
In addition, the legislation: •provides $755 million for the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program to eliminate the current backlog of over 300,000 rape kits (and other crime scene evidence) awaiting DNA analysis in the nation''s crime labs. •Authorizes more than $500 million for additional grant programs to: (1) improve the capacity of federal, state and local crime labs to conduct DNA analyses; (2) reduce other forensic science backlogs; (3) train criminal justice personnel in the use of DNA evidence; (4) support sexual assault forensic examiner programs; and (5) promote the use of DNA technology to identify missing persons. • Creates the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Program and authorizes $25 million over five years to help the States to defray the costs of post-conviction DNA testing.