DNA DATABASE EXPANSION IN THE 2001 UNITED STATES

European Network of Forensic ScienceAugust 27, 2001Muenster, Germany

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

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

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

In 2000, 19 states introduced legislation to expand the offenders from whom DNA samples are required

DNA Database Expansion (2000)

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

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.

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.

DNA Database Expansion in the 2001 Legislature

F

F

F

FF

F

FF

F

FF

F

Current all-felons states

Passed 2001 Legislation

Pending 2001 Legislation

Defeated 2001 Legislation

FFF

2001 Expansion BillsAlaska SB 99 - Halford & MurkowskiBurglary 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 Felons Failed

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 BillsMinnesota 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 crimesPassed

Washington HB 1335 - Miloscia All Felons Failed

West Virginia HB 2456 - Pino Arson, burglary, forgery Failed

Failed X Senate Bill 1171 (Smith) -- All felons.

Collection, but no analysis

Passed House Bill 1130 (Grossman) -- All felons.

In custody of Department of Corrections

Allocates anticipated federal funding

Passed Senate Bill 366 (Villalobos & Silver) -- All felons.

Phased in over 4 years

Subject to specific appropriation

Passed Senate Bill 316 (Alexa)

Obtains samples from specified offenders not in the custody of the Department of Corrections.

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.

Passing Multiple all felon bills.

Very Comprehensive

Some misdemeanor

Adds Juveniles

Seems to have aggressive agency support

FailedX House Bill 440 (Boucher) -- All felons.

Defeated at the last minute

Agency did not support the bill

Passed House Bill 5313 (Brien) - Adds violent

crime.

Takes effect upon receipt of federal funding.

How much federal funding will be necessary?

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?

FY 2002 Federal Funding Outlook for DNA

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...

President’s Proposed Budget $35 Million for the DNA Backlog Elimination Act (HR

4640) $35 Million for the DNA / CLIP Program

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

All-Felons DNA Database Expansion in the 2001 LegislatureIntroduced all-felons legislation in 2001

Introduced all felons legislation in 2000

Already require DNA samples from all felons

20005 all-felons bills introduced

200124 all-felons bills introduced

Trends (continued)

Secure authority now and worry about the implementation ($$) later

State reliance on federal funding

More states looking at DNA upon arrest

What a difference a year makes!

In 2000 only 8 states passed DNA expansion bills. In 2001 an estimated 22 states will pass expansion legislation.

Why the change?New dataSuccess of the databaseCitizen demand

DNA Database Expansion Successes: Past, Present, Future

1999 (6 states) 2000 (8 states)

2001 (22 states, est.)

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)

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.

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

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.

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.

Questions

Tim Schellberg, J.D. - Smith Alling Lane, P.S.Washington DC (202) 258-2301

Tacoma, WA (253) 627-1091tims@smithallinglane.com