DNAResource Report
News and Legislative updates for anyone seeking the latest information on forensic DNA policy and practice June 2007
Quick Links
 
 
 
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JUNE FEATURES
DENVER BURGLARY DNA PROJECT
CLICK HERE for information on Denver's remarkable success with identifying and prosecuting burglars with DNA evidence.   
 
Maryland Families of Missing Persons Submit DNA
 
So Many Leads, Detectives Can't Keep Up
 
 
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Interested in global DNA issues?  We are slowly populating and updating our Global page to include more information. 
 
If you have materials of interest to the global community you would like to share, please send them to Lisa at report@dnaresource.com
 
 
 
 
 
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The summary for the June 2007 DNA Resource Report is listed below.  Details on these and other forensic DNA news items can be found in the full report which is posted on the Internet at www.dnaresource.com.
LAW ENFORCEMENT:  Investigations and prosecutions aided by DNA evidence include:
  • California - a cold hit identified a child molester (1996 crime); and a rape suspect (1995 match to New Jersey);
  • Connecticut - a cold hit identified suspect in a rape and beating (1991 crime);
  • Florida - DNA found in a classroom corroborates a student's allegations of sexual contact with a teacher;
  • Idaho - rapist identified by a voluntary DNA sample; DNA tests exonerate a rape suspect;
  • Illinois - a cold hit convicted a rapist (on database for burglary);
  • Louisiana - a cold hit identified a rapist (1985 crime);
  • Michigan - DNA evidence helped to identify a triple murder suspect (DNA from cigarette butt);
  • Nebraska - DNA evidence helped to convict in a double homicide case;
  • New Jersey - a cold hit on the DNA database solved a residential burglary;
  • Wisconsin - a man exonerated by post conviction DNA tests is convicted by DNA in a murder committed after his release.

POLICY AND FUNDING ISSUES:

Policy - Arizona enacted legislation to collect DNA from certain arrestees - 11 states now have such laws.  South Carolina passed a bill for all felony arrestees, but the measure was vetoed.  New York's Governor is advocating for an all convicted criminals database.  A Florida database loophole misses the mentally incompetent.  See the bill tracking list on DNAResource.com for further details on this and other legislation.

 

A new Illinois law would permit DNA sample collection from known homicide victims for comparison against the unsolved crimes index.  Families of missing persons continue to organize and mobilize to pass legislation requiring DNA analysis of unidentified remains.  A Connecticut victim is lobbying to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting DNA cases.

 

Legal Issues - Vermont may face a constitutional challenge to its database in the Scoville trial.

 

Funding - Arizona crime lab is scheduled for renovation, but chronic underfunding has provided an opportunity for defense attorneys to question quality of lab's work.  The US Senate has proposed $174 million in funding for DNA for FY 2008.  Denver's participation in a pilot project is showing strong proof for use of DNA tests in property crime cases.

 OTHER FORENSIC DNA ISSUES:The Innocence Project reports half of its cases result in a DNA exoneration.  A project to answer questions about the disappearance of Roanoke settlers will use DNA in surname tests.  Missouri has made almost 300 hits on its database this year.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: The Mauritius Parliament is drafting DNA database legislation, and England is closing a loophole in its database and starting a new one for terrorism.  India calls for a missing persons/unidentified remains lab and database. EU countries move forward on sharing DNA databases.

  • Spain - Cycling doping investigation is aided DNA;
  • Israel - Man extradited to the Czech Republic for grenade attack with DNA link;
  • Scotland - Police to use DNA intelligence screens on 1,000 men in murder investigation;