Posted on 05/13/2007 10:16:33 PM PDT by neverdem
Gov. Eliot Spitzer is proposing a major expansion of New York’s database of DNA samples to include people convicted of most crimes, while making it easier for prisoners to use DNA to try to establish their innocence.
Currently, New York State collects DNA from those convicted of about half of all crimes, typically the most serious.
The governor’s proposal would order DNA taken from those found guilty of any misdemeanor, including minor drug offenses, harassment or unauthorized use of a credit card, according to a draft of his bill. It would not cover offenses considered violations, like disorderly conduct.
In expanding its database to include all felonies and misdemeanors, New York would be nearly alone, although a handful of states collect DNA from some defendants upon arrest, even before conviction.
Mr. Spitzer is also seeking mandatory sampling of all prisoners in the state, as well as all of those on parole, on probation or registered as sex offenders.
That expansion alone would add about 50,000 samples to the database, at a cost of about $1.75 million, his office said. It did not provide an estimate of the cost of taking DNA samples in all future convictions.
“This legislation will help us bring the guilty to justice and exonerate those who have been wrongly accused,” Mr. Spitzer said in a statement. He plans to introduce his bill this week.
The bill would make it easier for prisoners and defendants to obtain court orders to have their DNA tested against evidence collected in their cases and to have that evidence tested against the entire database of DNA, aides to the governor said.
It also would allow prisoners who have pleaded guilty to seek DNA testing that might prove them innocent, the aides said; some judges now decline such requests...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
This guy is an amazing opportunist. He’ll continue to leverage headlines like this all the up, creating chaos horrid social and economic impacts along the way.
It won’t be long until your DNA is taken at birth and if you so much as spit on the sidewalk you’ll get a ticket in the mail. Welcome to the Police State.
nwo - what? me worry?
“In expanding its database to include all felonies and misdemeanors”
Why misdemeanors??
Internet cigarette tax cheats?? : )
DNA evidence doesn’t matter more than any other evidence if they want to convict you. Look at the Duke Three—no DNA from them was found, but they were indicted anyway even after this was known. Eliot Spitzer refused to say a word on their behalf (one of them was his constituent).
Nifong dismissed the importance of DNA evidence and essentially said lack of DNA at the crime scene was irrelevant. And nobody from the DNA world (nor even any Innocence Project) disputed him.
So let them take your DNA. If the government wants to convict you, lack of DNA won’t be allowed to prove your innocence. Its presence can only be used to convict you; but just be sure the DA doesn’t try to plant any of it somewhere.
If this guy wants my DNA he can kiss my @$$
Closer and closer to Gattaca.
watch out, while kissing it, he might implant a microchip in ya! ; )
Why not just type all newborns nationwide and get it over with?
President Spitzer?
I didn’t like this guy when he was a grandstanding AG, I like him even less now. It will be easy to do this, as “criminals” have few (public) friends. The thing is, a crime is what they decide it is. Creepy Spitzer...
“So let them take your DNA. If the government wants to convict you, lack of DNA won’t be allowed to prove your innocence. Its presence can only be used to convict you; but just be sure the DA doesn’t try to plant any of it somewhere:
Hmmm sounds fair : )
“So that it’s easier when they decide to tie it to your driver’s license. Remember, they have to do it in small steps, otherwise people will realize what they are doing”
Just what I was thinking!
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