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Nov 9, 2021 · WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WRIC) — 32-years after a crime that made headlines, Debbie Smith came face to face with her attacker in prison.
The Debbie Smith Act of 2004 (42 U.S.C. § 13701) provides United States federal government grants to eligible states and units of local government to conduct DNA analyses of backlogged DNA samples collected from victims of crimes and criminal offenders.
The Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program provides funding to support public crime laboratories’ work to build capacity and process DNA evidence, including evidence collected in rape kits. Since its enactment in 2004, the Debbie Smith Act has been renewed twice with overwhelming bipartisan support.
An interview with Debbie Smith, a sexual assault survivor, the founder of H-E-A-R-T (Hope Exists after Rape Trauma), and a longtime advocate for the elimination of DNA testing backlogs.
Sep 6, 2019 · Today Debbie Smith, a survivor and advocate, alongside RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, held a press conference announcing delivery of over 32,000 signatures from citizens across the nation urging Congress to pass the Debbie Smith Act when it returns next week.
Apr 8, 2014 · — The House of Representatives today approved the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2014 (H.R. 4323) by voice vote. This bipartisan bill, introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), protects victims of rape and helps remove criminals from our streets by extending a federal ...
Jan 1, 2020 · The White House issued a statement Monday confirming the signing of H.R. 777, the Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019. The funding to state and local law enforcement aims to bring justice to...
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today introduced legislation to reauthorize the Debbie Smith Act, which would provide state and local law enforcement agencies with resources to complete forensic analyses of crime scenes and untested rape kits:
Jan 24, 2019 · Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019. This bill reauthorizes grants that support state and local efforts to process DNA evidence in rape kits. Specifically, it reauthorizes through FY2024 the following: grants under the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program;
Smith's attacker was convicted of rape, abduction, robbery, burglary, and larceny and sentenced to two life terms plus 25 years in prison. Smith travels around the country to talk about her experience.
