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HOUSE 2438117th CongressReferred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2021

Last Action
10/19/2021

Actions

  • 2021-10-19Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • 2021-04-08Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • 2021-04-08Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • 2021-04-08Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.
  • 2021-04-08Introduced in House
  • 2021-04-08Introduced in House

CRS Summary

As of 2021-04-08 (00)

Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act of 2021

This bill establishes a federal framework to govern the use of computational forensic software. The term computational forensic software means software that relies on an automated computational process to assess evidence in a criminal investigation (e.g., facial recognition technology).

The framework contains various elements, including the following:

  • requirements for the establishment of testing standards and a testing program for computational forensic software,
  • requirements for the use of computational forensic software by federal law enforcement agencies and related entities (e.g., crime labs),
  • a ban on the use of trade secret evidentiary privilege to prevent federal criminal defendants from accessing evidence collected using computational forensic software or information about the software (e.g., source code), and
  • limits on the admissibility of evidence collected using computational forensic software.

Cosponsors (1)

  • Dwight Evans (D-PA)

Subjects

  • Computers and information technology
  • Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
  • Criminal justice information and records
  • Criminal procedure and sentencing
  • Evidence and witnesses
  • Government information and archives
  • Performance measurement
  • Trade secrets and economic espionage
Read on Congress.gov

Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.