NY's DNA databank is part of the national CODIS system
(02/02/12) The state Senate has emphatically passed legislation that would expand New York's criminal DNA database. The bill would require people convicted of all crimes, including misdemeanors, to submit DNA samples to the state's DNA databank. Currently, only someone convicted of a felony, or certain types of misdemeanors, is required to submit a DNA sample.
Senators voted 50-10 Tuesday to pass the DNA Databank Expansion Bill. As Chris Morris reports, the bill has a lot support, but it could be tested in the Assembly.
Gov.
Andrew Cuomo urged the Assembly to act quickly to pass the bill, which he
called “an important step in protecting New Yorkers and modernizing the state’s
criminal justice system.”
State
Sen. Betty Little, a Republican who represents northeastern New York, called
DNA “the 21st Century fingerprint.”
The
state’s DNA databank was established in 1994 and has since helped solve some
10,000 crimes. That figure includes about 900 murders and 3,500 sexual
assaults.
Law-enforcement
agencies and advocacy groups statewide support the bill. Franklin County District
Attorney Derek Champagne is a past president of the District Attorneys
Association of the State of New York. He lobbied strongly for the bill last
year.
“It’s one of those things that kind of improves both sides,” Champagne said. “I
think the last count we had, there’s been 27 exonerations from DNA in New York
state to date. I know the number of convictions obtained is well over 2,700
last time I saw, where DNA was the first link to the individual who was
ultimately convicted of the crime.”
Champagne
says the legislation isn’t just about convicting wrongdoers.
“It has the ability to not only solve the crime but also exonerate someone who
has been wrongfully accused,” he said.
Champagne
says the costs associated with DNA sampling have “come down substantially” and
that it’s no more invasive than a fingerprint.
“The time has come,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it’s long overdue because the
technology has been improving, but I think the technology is now to a point
where it’s clearly the right thing to do and it’s clearly the right time to do
it. I have the highest praise for the governor for stepping up to the plate on
this important issue.”
But
this bill isn’t law yet, and it might not be a slam dunk in the Assembly.
Assemblywoman
Teresa Sayward, a Republican from Willsboro, says “a lot” of Democrats view the
legislation as an invasion of privacy, but not her.
“There have been so many people that have been wrongly accused,” Sayward said,
adding that an expanded DNA database also helps solve rape cases.
Assemblywoman
Janet Duprey, a Republican from Peru, says she also supports the bill.
For
North Country Public Radio, I’m Chris Morris.
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