Today, the Accurate Justice Project published the No Evidence Ignored Act, our model legislation to improve the use of forensic database evidence at the state level. The bill would ensure that crucial evidence generated by police forensic databases (especially the CODIS database) is consistently used to its full potential to solve cold cases and correct wrongful convictions. It is the first such bill of its kind.

Specifically, the No Evidence Ignored Act creates clear chains of responsibility for investigating newly emerged database hits, and includes clear oversight and reporting structures to ensure these hits cannot fall through the cracks. The bill also provides much-needed clarity on what specific investigative steps should be taken on hits in different types of cases. In doing so, the bill will improve public safety, enhance the accuracy of our justice system, while providing justice and closure to victims of violent crime.

This common-sense bill was developed with the input of victims’ groups, law enforcement leaders, and wrongful conviction organizations. As a result, it ensures that victims’ needs are properly served, that exculpatory evidence is made available to the innocence advocates who can take advantage of it, and does so without burdening local law enforcement agencies with unfeasible new requirements.

In addition to this sort of legislation, the Accurate Justice Project has been working with local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies around the country to design and implement procedures to improve the handling of this powerful forensic database evidence. But with thousands of local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies nationwide, action by states to require consistent and uniform processes for investigating these leads is necessary.

We will be working over the coming months to secure the introduction of the No Evidence Ignored Act in numerous states in the 2027 legislative session, with the goal of ultimately expanding this model nationally. If you are interested in working with us in advocating for the No Evidence Ignored Act in your state, please contact hdavis@accuratejustice.org.