Ashley Spence is the founder of the DNA Justice Project, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that champions forensic DNA advocacy and reform. A survivor of a violent 2003 home invasion and sexual assault at age 19 while a student at Arizona State University, Ashley endured years of uncertainty until a 2010 CODIS DNA match identified and convicted her attacker, who received nearly 138 years in prison.
Central to both her case and her healing was the care she received from forensic nurses — whose meticulous evidence collection and compassionate support in the aftermath of her assault proved essential to achieving justice years later. That experience gave her a deep appreciation for the critical role forensic nursing plays not only in preserving evidence, but in helping survivors feel seen and supported when they are most vulnerable.
This experience fueled her mission to use DNA’s potential — not only to solve crimes and exonerate the innocent but also to prevent future offenses through expanded databases, tools like Rapid DNA, and better funding. She has testified before legislatures across the country, helping pass impactful laws such as the Liza Fletcher Act.
Ashley is an author and victim advocate whose memoir, Silent Witness: How DNA Uncovered the Truth and Empowered My Healing, weaves her personal journey with an urgent call for DNA policy changes. As a mother residing in the Austin, Texas area, her work bridges survivor voices, science, and policy to build safer communities
