Press Release: Colorado Lawmakers Address DNA Scandal with New Legislation
Denver, CO — In response to the growing DNA scandal at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), state legislators convened a news conference on Thursday to announce new measures aimed at restoring integrity within the forensic lab. The proposed House Bill 1275 mandates transparency in reporting misconduct and aims to prevent future breaches of trust, particularly in light of allegations against seasoned forensic scientist Yvonne "Missy" Woods, who has been linked to over 1,000 anomalies in her work.
Woods, who has managed more than 10,780 cases throughout her 29-year tenure, faces 102 counts, including cybercrime. As legislative leaders, including Reps. Matt Soper and Yara Zokaie, emphasized, HB 1275 will require lab employees to report misconduct within 14 days and will ensure that district attorneys are notified of questionable cases within 90 days.
In parallel, Senate Bill 170 addresses a backlog of 1,407 untested rape kits, allocating $3 million to expedite testing procedures. CBI officials aim to contract external labs to tackle this issue and report progress every month to the General Assembly. The current turnaround for DNA kits exceeds 500 days, far above the targeted 90 days.
Rep. William Lindstedt has also called for a state audit, highlighting urgent delays in processing sexual assault evidence, which significantly impacts survivors seeking justice. Among the affected is Rep. Jenny Willford, who shared her personal experience related to the backlog.
Legislators are committed to fast-tracking these bills to ensure accountability and restore public trust in the CBI. The first committee hearing date for HB 1275 has yet to be announced, but the urgency surrounding these changes has spurred bipartisan support aimed at securing justice for victims in Colorado.
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