This two-page fact sheet provides an accessible summary of the problem of underutilized CODIS hits, making it a good introduction to understanding the problem and why our proposed solution is so urgent.

In brief, CODIS is a DNA indexing tool that can identify the perpetrators of violent crimes or tie seemingly unconnected crimes together. With over 25 million DNA profiles collected from crime scenes and people convicted of serious felonies nationwide, it is an immensely powerful crime-solving tool. But the effectiveness of the investigative leads generated by CODIS hinges on law enforcement and prosecutors properly acting on it.

Currently, a lack of familiarity with CODIS as well as the absence of formal procedures means that in many instances - especially in long-unsolved cold cases and wrongful conviction cases - crucial evidence generated by CODIS is at risk of being ignored. This is leaving victims without justice and closure and, in some cases, is also leaving an innocent person to remain in prison, unaware of the exculpatory DNA evidence that could exonerate them.

We need law enforcement agencies and prosecutors' offices to adopt clear procedures for reviewing, investigating, and where appropriate disclosing CODIS hits, and we need state legislatures to pass laws mandating such procedures statewide.