Rep. Troy E. Nehls Introduces CODIS Access Modernization Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) introduced the CODIS Access Modernization Act, which would allow privately-owned and operated forensic evidence DNA testing laboratories to directly upload qualifying DNA profiles to the National DNA Index System (NDIS), so long as they meet certain requirements.
Currently, accredited private forensic DNA laboratories, meeting the same Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Quality Assurance Standards and ISO/IEC 1025 requirements as public laboratories, are barred from directly uploading DNA profiles to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), resulting in redundant reviews that delay investigations and impose significant costs on public agencies.
“By limiting CODIS access to public laboratories, glaring national security and public safety bottlenecks have been created,” said Congressman Nehls. “My bill would grant CODIS access to eligible private laboratories and accelerate case resolutions, increase DNA matches and arrests, reduce the burden on public laboratories, and prevent additional offenses, resulting in getting more violent offenders off our streets and put behind bars.”
Supporting organizations of the CODIS Access Modernization Act include the International Homicide Investigators Association, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Foundation, Southeastern Homicide Investigators Association, Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police, North Aurora Police, Pasco Police Department, Louisville Metro Police Department, Beverly Hills Police Department, Project Cold Case, Season of Justice, Joyful Heart Foundation, H-E-A-R-T (Hope Exists After Rape Trauma), Project Beloved, Not Just Me Foundation, Lavinia Masters, Bode Technology, DNA Labs International, Signature Science, Pure Gold Forensics, Serological Research Institute, DNA Solutions, and Forensic Analytical Crime Lab.
“A CODIS hit is a vital piece of information in a criminal investigation,” said Tracy Matheson, President and Founder of Project Beloved. “They may identify an unknown perpetrator or they may reveal the serial nature of a known perpetrator. It is absolutely essential that the CODIS hits are uploaded in a timely and efficient manner so that justice may be served. Giving private labs access to upload CODIS hits directly is a much needed step to streamline this process and protect future victims.”
“Justice delayed is justice denied. By leveraging the high-throughput workflows and innovative technologies of private labs, together we can expedite the identification of criminals before they strike again,” said Kameran Wong, Communications Director for the Forensic Criminal Justice Alliance. "I would like to thank Rep. Nehls for introducing this important legislation."
Read Congressman Nehls’ bill HERE.