GA HB1596

No Evidence Ignored Act (HB1596)

• Requires the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to notify local prosecutorial agencies when forensic database searches (such as DNA or fingerprint matches) produce evidence relevant to unsolved cases
• Mandates prosecutorial agencies to review the forensic evidence and make a determination on how to proceed within a specified timeframe after notification
• Requires prosecutorial agencies to document their decisions and actions taken in response to forensic database hits
• Establishes reporting requirements to track how forensic evidence notifications are handled across jurisdictions
• Aims to ensure that potentially case-solving forensic evidence from state databases is not overlooked or ignored by local prosecutors