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Politics

Rape kit tracking bill signed into law in Georgia

05/03/2021 — Atlanta, Georgia — Gov. Brian Kemp carries a pile of legislation he plans to sign into law at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Monday, May 3, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Credit: Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com

Credit: Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com

05/03/2021 — Atlanta, Georgia — Gov. Brian Kemp carries a pile of legislation he plans to sign into law at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, Monday, May 3, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)
By Mark Niesse
May 6, 2021

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill Thursday that will help victims of sexual assaults keep track of evidence in their cases, from collection to prosecution.

The law, House Bill 255, creates a tracking system for rape kits as they move through the criminal justice system, including initial receipt by law enforcement, storage and analysis.

Supporters of the bill said it will keep victims involved in their cases if they choose, and it will help hold perpetrators of sexual assaults accountable.

Victims can be informed when perpetrators are identified, arrested and charged.

The bill is the state’s latest effort to empower victims after the General Assembly previously passed laws in recent years requiring police to save sexual assault evidence and clear backlogs of untested rape kits.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

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