Romney Signs DNA Bill-ALL PERSONS Having ANY Felony Convictions Must Submit Sample to State

The Boston Globe - Raphael Lewis ^ | November 12, 2003 | JT8D

[jt8d]

Romney to sign DNA bill today

Measure to cover all felons in state

By Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff, 11/12/2003

All convicted felons in Massachusetts, from those who commit murder to those who steal live poultry, will be required to submit DNA samples to the State Police under a controversial bill being signed today by Governor Mitt Romney.

The legislation, which will expand the state's DNA database from 20,000 samples to nearly 100,000, has enjoyed bipartisan support on Beacon Hill and has been lauded by law enforcement authorities and the relatives of crime victims. John and Magdalen Bish, whose 16-year-old daughter was abducted from her Warren lifeguard post and murdered in June 2000, will be on hand for the signing ceremony today in Sudbury, home of the State Police crime laboratory, where the forensic data and samples are kept.

But even as Romney tells those gathered today that "the long arm of the law just got a little longer," detractors fear that the new law represents a serious encroachment on privacy rights, mostly because several of the hundreds of felonies on the books are low-level offenses. A felony is any crime for which those convicted can be sent to a state prison...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2003/11/12/romney_to_sign_dna_bill_today/

[PaxMacian]

Government should not possess the power to compel citizens to turn over the code which God has used to manifest our bodies in this plane of existence.

[jt8d]

In the state of Connecticut it is a "felony" to possess a weapon in a vehicle--any weapon. That includes your favorite, handy-dandy, Swiss-Army pocket knife. Should you find yourself involved in a serious auto accident, the police are mandated to search your vehicle--and you also. Ooops! There goes another "felony." Now, suppose, up to that point, you have a clean record. In that case, the chances are good that there will be a modest to hefty fine--depending upon the temperment of the judge--and you will be entered into a "Accelerated Rehabilitation" program, including some probationary period. After satisfying the requirements of which, your "record" will be sealed, and that is the end of the matter... Or so you may think.

Move to Massachusetts, and, "sealed" record or not, you are considered a "convicted" felon. Your little indiscretion is conveniently re-determined to be "continued without a finding," the felony has reappeared on your record--with all the newly attendant consequences that our dear old REPUBLICAN governor has imposed: "Fork up that DNA, boy, or else!" All because you were carrying a pocket knife. Welcome to the Police State.

[hunter112]

Did you know that it is a FELONY to steal avacados from an orchard?

Interesting, I didn't know there were avocado orchards in Massachusetts.

Seriously, how is this any different from the state keeping fingerprint records on convicted felons? They already keep them on anybody arrested, even those who beat the rap. It exonerates the innocent, when fingerprint evidence is found at a crime scene. It would have the same effect here.

I'd have a problem with the privacy issue if government wanted to track the legal whereabouts of people doing legal things, but as a crime solving tool, where's the objection?

[Iscool]

Isn't Romney a Republican?

What's that got to do with anything??? The fella who is going to turn the U.S. into a 3rd world country via globalization, unfair trade pacts with the rest of the world including our enemies and applauds criminal illegal aliens moving into our country is a Republican...So what???

[SoulStorms]

I don't see this as any different than taking fingerprints from everyone arrested.

It's very different. A fingerprint is only a unique identifier. Your genetic code is an infinite source of information about you and your entire family.

Can you imagine your health insurer or future employer being able to screen you for future health issues from a database because you got caught up in a bar brawl when you were 21? How about having your genetic information end up being used for bioweapons research because you pilfered an avocado?

Wanna lose your kids? Care to end up on a "watch list" because you have been identified as "high risk" from your genetic makup for some unwanted behavior? Try doing any of that with fingerprints.

[demlosers]

The military has been swabbing inner cheeks for DNA samples since the mid-ninties. I had mine swabbed in 1996.

Supposedly, the samples are for ID'ing service members in case of death in war time.

[Dog]

Did you ever see X-files??

:-)

[Iscool]

Supposedly, the samples are for ID'ing service members in case of death in war time.

Exactly...And why not then take the DNA samples from all innocent civilians as well??? Much easier to identify victims...Right???

[demlosers]

Naw, I missed that episode. :(

[BOOTSTICK]

You see, it's like this, you commit a crime, you lose your civil rights. OK?, next topic please.

[demlosers]

Exactly...And why not then take the DNA samples from all innocent civilians as well??? Much easier to identify victims...Right???

Yeah, probably the slow progressing trend toward general acceptance.

[Lijahsbubbe]

You see, it's like this, you commit a crime, you lose your civil rights. OK?, next topic please.Ha ha, tell that one to illegal immigrants, they get perks for breaking the law.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

I like that.

[Atlas Sneezed]

One concern about this (that may not pass legal muster) is that it essentially amounts to an ex post facto punishment for those who have already served their sentences. Granted, having one's DNA forcibly extracted isn't as bad as hearing: "you're going back to jail", but it falls into the same category.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Anything you enjoy doing today, may?will become a crime tomorrow.

Especially if you live in *assachusetts.

[rottweiller_inc]

Just remember..these "felons" are'nt only giving their dna but the dna of their family. Think i'm kidding? why did the US seek to identify osama from the dna obtained from a relative? It's a big can of worms that does'nt seem important right now but it will later.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Got Gattaca?

[At _War_With_Liberals]

The DA's logic is: If convicted felons are using DNA to exonerate themselves, then dammit, we're gonna use it to nail more people to make it even.

Planting other physical evidence is now passe. DNA evidence is nearly irrefutable... juries will convict on it every time.

This may be over the top, but I do not trust the govt with this power.

[Old Professer]

90% of the convictions are the result of coercive plea-bargaining procedures; this adds a new twist.

Soon, we will have a requirement to submit a sample of DNA to receive any government benefit - my guess is three years.