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DNA DATABASE EXPANSION IN THE 2001 UNITED STATES

DNA DATABASE EXPANSION IN THE 2001 UNITED STATES. European Network of Forensic Science August 27, 2001 Muenster, Germany Presented by Tim Schellberg, J.D. - Smith Alling Lane, P.S. Washington DC (202) 258-2301 Tacoma, WA (253) 627-1091 tims@smithallinglane.com.

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DNA DATABASE EXPANSION IN THE 2001 UNITED STATES

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  1. DNA DATABASE EXPANSION IN THE 2001 UNITED STATES European Network of Forensic Science August 27, 2001 Muenster, Germany Presented by Tim Schellberg, J.D. - Smith Alling Lane, P.S. Washington DC (202) 258-2301 Tacoma, WA (253) 627-1091 tims@smithallinglane.com

  2. Reviewing Legislative DNA Database Expansion Activity in 1999 and 2000 • 1999 - Estimated 10 states introduced bills and 6 passed • 2000 - 19 States introduced bill and 8 passed • Identified trends in 1999 & 2000 • Steady, yet conservative growth • Focus on violent crimes and burglary • Very few states considering all felons • State and federal legislators starting to fund DNA databasing

  3. DNA Database Expansion (2000) In 2000, 19 states introduced legislation to expand the offenders from whom DNA samples are required PASSED (8) Arizona -- Most non-drug related felonies Colorado -- Most non-drug related felonies Florida -- Burglary Georgia -- All felony convictions New Jersey -- Several violent felonies South Carolina -- Most non-drug related felonies South Dakota - Most non-drug related felonies West Virginia -- Most non-drug related felonies DID NOT PASS (11) Alaska -- Burglary California -- All felony convictions Connecticut-- Fingerprintable arrests Hawaii -- Most violent crimes Kentucky -- Most violent crimes Mississippi -- All felony convictions New York -- All misdemeanor and felony convictions Pennsylvania -- Most violent crimes Ohio -- Most non-drug related felonies Rhode Island -- Breaking and entering & assault Washington -- All felony convictions

  4. DNA Database Expansion in the 2001 Legislature 35 states have introduced over 110 bills to expand the state offender DNA database to include more felons. Of these states, 24 have introduced bills to expand the DNA database to include all convicted felons.

  5. DNA Database Expansion in the 2001 Legislature F F F F F F F F F F F Current all-felons states Passed 2001 Legislation Pending 2001 Legislation Defeated 2001 Legislation F F F F 35 states have introduced over 110 bills to expand the state offender DNA database to include more felons. Of these states, 24 have introduced bills to expand the DNA database to include all convicted felons.

  6. Alaska SB 99 - Halford & Murkowski Burglary Passed Arkansas HB 1376 - Hunt Burglary Passed HB 1259 - Verkamp All Felons Failed Arizona SB 1171 - Smith All Felons Failed California AB 673 - Migden Burglary, robbery, arson, Pending carjacking Colorado HB 1130 - Grossman All Felons Passed Connecticut SB 89 - Brien Violent felonies, burglary Failed Delaware HB 4 - Ewing All FelonsFailed Florida SB 366 - Villalobos & Silver All Felons Passed Hawaii Multiple bills (HB -1577Marumoto) All Felons Failed Iowa HF 254 - Baudler All Felons Failed Illinois HB 452 - Lyons Stalking, concealment of a Passed homicide Indiana SB 316 - Alexa Probationers & parolees Passed Kansas SB 263 - Felciano Burglary, misdemeanor Passed sex offenses Kentucky HB 33 - Younts All Felons Failed Maine LD 1565 - Carr Class A,B & C crimes Passed Michigan Multiple bills (Van Regenmorter, Faunce, Kooiman, others) All Felons Passed 2001 Expansion Bills

  7. Minnesota Multiple bills All Felons Failed Mississippi Multiple bills All Felons Failed Missouri HB 835 - Boucher All Felons Failed Montana HB 359 - Clark All Felons Passed North Carolina HB 1127 - Blust All Felons Pending North Dakota HB 1208 - Klemin Violent felons, burglary Passed New Hampshire SB 30 - Hollingworth Murder, assault, arson, rob.Failed New Jersey SB 2236 - Bucco Robbery, carjacking, criminal Pending restraint Nevada AB 489 - Gustavson A, B & C felonies Passed New York SB 5640 All Felons Pending Oklahoma SB 753 - Wilkerson Robbery, burglary, kidnap, Passed maiming Oregon SB 920 HB 2664 - Minnis and Winters All Felons Passed Pennsylvania SB 259 - Dent Burglary Pending Rhode Island SB 92 - Brien Crimes of violence Passed South Carolina SB 492 - McConnell 2nd degree burglary Passed Texas HB 588 - Garcia All Felons Passed SB 638 - Barrientos Indictments for certain crimes Passed Washington HB 1335 - Miloscia All Felons Failed West Virginia HB 2456 - Pino Arson, burglary, forgery Failed 2001 Expansion Bills

  8. Failed XSenate Bill 1171 (Smith) -- All felons. Collection, but no analysis

  9. Passed •  House Bill 1130 (Grossman) -- All felons. • In custody of Department of Corrections •  Allocates anticipated federal funding

  10. Passed  Senate Bill 366 (Villalobos & Silver) -- All felons.  Phased in over 4 years  Subject to specific appropriation

  11. Passed Senate Bill 316 (Alexa) Obtains samples from specified offenders not in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

  12. Passed Legislative Document 1565 (Carr) -- Class A, B & C Crimes. Expands offenses for databasing, but repeals current law that requires collection from juveniles. Opposed by the state crime lab - the reduction of juveniles will be greater than the expansion of crimes for databasing.

  13. Passing Multiple all felon bills.  Very Comprehensive  Some misdemeanor  Adds Juveniles  Seems to have aggressive agency support

  14. Failed • X House Bill 440 (Boucher) -- All felons. •  Defeated at the last minute •  Agency did not support the bill

  15. Passed House Bill 5313 (Brien) - Adds violent crime. Takes effect upon receipt of federal funding. How much federal funding will be necessary?

  16. Passed Two Bills House Bill 588(Garcia) -- All felons.  Not retroactive  No juveniles  Contingent on federal or “other” funding  Penalties for misuse of data  Senate Bill 638(Barrientos) -- Indictments for certain sex crimes and burglary.  Where is murder and robbery?  What will the courts do?  Can federal money be used?

  17. FY 2002 Federal Funding Outlook for DNA • President’s Proposed Budget • $35 Million for the DNA Backlog Elimination Act (HR 4640) • $35 Million for the DNA / CLIP Program • Congressional Budget (H. Con Res. 83) Sense of the Senate Language • $65 Million for DNA Backlog Elimination Act (HR 4640) • $85 Million for National Forensic Science Improvement Act (S. 3045) • Congressional Appropriations • In progress...

  18. Trends From 2001 Legislatures • All-Felons • In 2000, only 5 states attempted the all-felons legislation. This year, 24 states have already introduced the all-felons legislation. • Less Active Opposition • The Texas ACLU decided to not oppose the all-felons bill

  19. All-Felons DNA Database Expansion in the 2001 Legislature Introduced all-felons legislation in 2001 Introduced all felons legislation in 2000 Already require DNA samples from all felons 2000 5 all-felons bills introduced 2001 24 all-felons bills introduced

  20. Trends (continued) • Secure authority now and worry about the implementation ($$) later • State reliance on federal funding • More states looking at DNA upon arrest

  21. What a difference a year makes! • In 2000 only 8 states passed DNA expansion bills. In 2001 an estimated 22states will pass expansion legislation. • Why the change? • New data • Success of the database • Citizen demand

  22. DNA Database Expansion Successes: Past, Present, Future 1999 (6 states) 2000 (8 states) 2001 (22 states, est.)

  23. The Virginia Data • What happens when you compare Virginia’s data against states that only collect DNA from violent offenders? • “Approximately 85% of hits would have been missed if databank were limited to only violent offenders” Paul Ferrara, Director, Virginia Division of Forensic Science • Other studies • 52% of Florida offenders linked to sexual assaults and homicides by DNA database matches have had prior burglary convictions (non violent offense)

  24. Policy Concerns Developing in 2001 • Non-retroactive. • Limitation of collection to those in the custody of the Corrections Department. • How will the feds feel about making the expansion contingent on federal funding? • Exempting juveniles (Maine and Texas). • Promoting arrestee bills to the detriment of all felon bills.

  25. Expansion Bills are Passing, But Lack Coordinated Advocacy • Advocating DNA expansion is popular among the legislators, but it has not hit the mainstream • State criminal justice agencies generally are not promoting expansion • Law enforcement and victim associations seem to have other top priorities

  26. The Need for Statistics • Comparing all-felon states to other states. • What is the difference in solving crime? • What impact does it have on preventing crime? • Diversion of resources to other cases.

  27. Predictions • A steady push for all felons will continue. • Arrestee testing legislation will be begin to pass, but databasing of arrestee samples will be resisted. • State funding for databasing will continue to be a challenge.

  28. Questions Tim Schellberg, J.D. - Smith Alling Lane, P.S. Washington DC (202) 258-2301 Tacoma, WA (253) 627-1091 tims@smithallinglane.com

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