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The New York State Senate on Tuesday passed legislation for the largest expansion of the state’s DNA databank since it was created in 1994.
The legislation — S.5560A — mirrors the databank expansion plan proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to require people convicted of all felonies, as well as misdemeanors in the penal law, to submit DNA samples. As it stands, the database applies to penal law felonies and 36 specific misdemeanor crimes.
“DNA is a proven crime-fighting tool and expanding its use will put more lawbreakers behind bars and offer another layer of protection for the public,” said Sen. James Seward, R,C,I - Oneonta, who co-sponsored the bill. “More crimes will be solved, more criminals will be brought to justice and more innocent individuals will be exonerated through this legislation.”
Under the existing law, Seward said people convicted of about half the crimes that are committed are required to submit DNA samples. The legislation passed by the Senate on Tuesday would expand that list to include all felonies in state law and every penal law misdemeanor. It is projected the expansion would add about 46,000 individual DNA samples a year to the databank.
“Studies show criminals that commit serious crimes, like rape and murder, have often committed lower level offenses previously. By collecting DNA, repeat offenders can be caught sooner and taken off the street, avoiding further tragedy and saving innocent lives,” said Seward.
The bill passed the Senate 50 to 10 and is supported by law enforcement organizations across the state, including the New York State Sheriffs Association, District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New York State Troopers PBA, Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims and the Joyful Heart Foundation.
Seward since its inception, DNA stored in the databank has been used to identify perpetrators in about 10,000 crimes, including 900 murders and 3,500 sexual assaults.
Since 2006, when the DNA databank was expanded to include 36 misdemeanors, law enforcement agencies have used the information to convict 1,460 criminals.
Cuomo has called on the state Assembly to pass the Senate bill.
“Today, the New York State Senate passed the DNA Databank Expansion Bill, an important step in protecting New Yorkers and modernizing the state’s criminal justice system. This critical crime fighting resource embraces technology to help protect the innocent and convict the guilty ... I call on the Assembly to do the same so I can sign this bill into law immediately,” said Cuomo in a statement.
Assembly Democrats are reportedly looking for additional protections in the bill, including specific guidelines for collecting DNA samples and the establishment of privacy guidelines.
The New York State Senate on Tuesday passed legislation for the largest expansion of the state’s DNA databank since it was created in 1994.
The legislation — S.5560A — mirrors the databank expansion plan proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to require people convicted of all felonies, as well as misdemeanors in the penal law, to submit DNA samples. As it stands, the database applies to penal law felonies and 36 specific misdemeanor crimes.
“DNA is a proven crime-fighting tool and expanding its use will put more lawbreakers behind bars and offer another layer of protection for the public,” said Sen. James Seward, R,C,I - Oneonta, who co-sponsored the bill. “More crimes will be solved, more criminals will be brought to justice and more innocent individuals will be exonerated through this legislation.”
Under the existing law, Seward said people convicted of about half the crimes that are committed are required to submit DNA samples. The legislation passed by the Senate on Tuesday would expand that list to include all felonies in state law and every penal law misdemeanor. It is projected the expansion would add about 46,000 individual DNA samples a year to the databank.
“Studies show criminals that commit serious crimes, like rape and murder, have often committed lower level offenses previously. By collecting DNA, repeat offenders can be caught sooner and taken off the street, avoiding further tragedy and saving innocent lives,” said Seward.
The bill passed the Senate 50 to 10 and is supported by law enforcement organizations across the state, including the New York State Sheriffs Association, District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New York State Troopers PBA, Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims and the Joyful Heart Foundation.
Seward since its inception, DNA stored in the databank has been used to identify perpetrators in about 10,000 crimes, including 900 murders and 3,500 sexual assaults.
Since 2006, when the DNA databank was expanded to include 36 misdemeanors, law enforcement agencies have used the information to convict 1,460 criminals.
Cuomo has called on the state Assembly to pass the Senate bill.
“Today, the New York State Senate passed the DNA Databank Expansion Bill, an important step in protecting New Yorkers and modernizing the state’s criminal justice system. This critical crime fighting resource embraces technology to help protect the innocent and convict the guilty ... I call on the Assembly to do the same so I can sign this bill into law immediately,” said Cuomo in a statement.
Assembly Democrats are reportedly looking for additional protections in the bill, including specific guidelines for collecting DNA samples and the establishment of privacy guidelines.
