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The state Senate on Tuesday, January 31, approved legislation to expand the state’s DNA databank.
The legislation would require anyone convicted of any felony or penal law misdemeanor to provide a DNA sample for the state’s databank. Currently, only those convicted of penal law felonies and 36 misdemeanors – approximately 46 percent of crimes – are required to contribute.
“This action would bring New York state more fully into the modern era of fighting crime,” said state Sen. Tom O’Mara, R-Big Flats, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “DNA is recognized as the modern-day equivalent of a fingerprint. It’s strongly supported by law enforcement and victims advocacy groups as a key addition to New York’s criminal justice system for apprehending and prosecuting serious criminals, and as a deterrent to violent crime.”
The proposed expansion would add approximately 46,000 DNA samples to the databank annually. According to O’Mara, the databank has been used to identify perpetrators in 10,000 crimes, including 900 murders and 3,500 sexual assaults
The state Assembly must pass the legislation before it can be signed into law. Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged the body to do so immediately.
The state Senate on Tuesday, January 31, approved legislation to expand the state’s DNA databank.
The legislation would require anyone convicted of any felony or penal law misdemeanor to provide a DNA sample for the state’s databank. Currently, only those convicted of penal law felonies and 36 misdemeanors – approximately 46 percent of crimes – are required to contribute.
“This action would bring New York state more fully into the modern era of fighting crime,” said state Sen. Tom O’Mara, R-Big Flats, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “DNA is recognized as the modern-day equivalent of a fingerprint. It’s strongly supported by law enforcement and victims advocacy groups as a key addition to New York’s criminal justice system for apprehending and prosecuting serious criminals, and as a deterrent to violent crime.”
The proposed expansion would add approximately 46,000 DNA samples to the databank annually. According to O’Mara, the databank has been used to identify perpetrators in 10,000 crimes, including 900 murders and 3,500 sexual assaults
The state Assembly must pass the legislation before it can be signed into law. Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged the body to do so immediately.
