I met Debbie Smith in June 2001 at a hearing I held in the Government Reform Committee on DNA. When she was done telling her story, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. I decided to author legislation titled “The Debbie Smith Act” in the 107th Congress to get rapists off the streets. Mrs. Smith was unable to identify her masked attacker, but DNA is better than many eyewitness accounts. DNA doesn't forget, and DNA cannot be intimidated by defense counsel. Six years after Mrs. Smith was raped, DNA helped to identify her attacker.

In 2004 “The Debbie Smith Act” was signed into law as part of the “Justice for All Act” (P.L. 108-405).  “The Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act” was signed into law in 2008 (P.L. 110-360).  P.L. 110-360 authorizes $151 million in each fiscal year from FY2009-FY2014 to process DNA evidence, and it reauthorizes programs for training and education and sexual assault forensic exam grants.

**For information regarding DNA evidence collected for a specific victim or offender, please contact the state/local crime lab, law enforcement agency, hospital, or prison responsible for collecting and testing that sample. For information regarding the laws in your state/locality, please contact the office of your state attorney general, local district attorney's office, magistrate, or Member of Congress.** 

Background on the Debbie Smith Act

 Debbie Smith was taken from her home and raped in the woods nearby. Her husband (Robert), a law enforcement officer in Williamsburg, Virginia, was asleep in their bedroom. Six and a half years later, Mrs. Smith's attacker was identified and convicted because of the processing of DNA evidence. Currently, there is no standardization for evidence collection kits, a tremendous backlog exists in processing evidence recovered from rape victims, and a need exists for trained personnel to be the "front-line" workers who collect DNA evidence from victims after they have been raped. The SANE program trains medical personnel, law enforcement, and first responders to specifically deal with sexual assault victims. When a victim is assaulted, the SANE program ensures her health and treat injuries, properly collects and maintains the evidence, and assists with the emotional needs of the victim. The most important component is the training of the medical personnel to conduct the exam appropriately. Countless stories are told regarding the long waits, going from hospital to hospital, and being further humiliated. The medical personnel and law enforcement personnel will be given the tools to do it appropriately.

Organizations that have endorsed the Debbie Smith Act