DNA Resource.com
February 2008 Report
News and Legislative updates for anyone seeking the latest information on forensic DNA policy and practice
 
 
 
FEBRUARY
FEATURES
 
 
South Dakota Enacts Law for Arrestee DNA Testing
 
 
 
New York DA Calls for Use of Partial Matches in Investigations
 
 
 
"Juli's Law" for Arrestee DNA Testing Passes Oklahoma House
 
 
 
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THE FEBRUARY 2008 Report was unavoidably delayed due to pressures from the start of state the legislative sessions.  The MARCH Report should be issued on time (later this week).  We apoologize for the delay.
 
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The summary for the February 2008 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 at www.dnaresource.com.

LAW ENFORCEMENT:  Investigations and prosecutions aided by DNA evidence include:

 

COLD HITS BRING:

·   California - Cold hits lead to a variety of leads in unsolved cases including: murders from 1991 and 1972, and a serial rapist.  A cold hit also identified a murder on database for drug charges.    

·   Colorado - A cold hit led to charges in sexual assault. DNA solved 2 sexual assaults.

·   Florida - A cold hit identifies rapist (on database for rape in CT).  DNA links two rapes.

·   Georgia - A cold hit solves sexual assault on a teacher. 

·   Hawaii - DNA evidence leads to indictment in 1987 murder.

·   Illinois - Cold hits identify murderer in 1989 case (on database for home invasion) and man who committed sexual assault.

·   Iowa - A cold hit arrest in a rape case.

·   Massachusetts - A cold hit led to life sentence for 1991 rape (on database for robbery). 

·   Michigan - DNA collected from a stain on an envelope from a wet swab identified a 1983 murderer (on database for rape).

·   Missouri - A cold hit led to a conviction in 1987 rape and murder (on database for rape), and identifies rapist (on database for narcotics).

·   New Jersey - A cold hit led to sentencing in sexual assault and burglary.

·   New York -Cold hits identify rapist (on database for weapons possession) and burglar.

·   North Carolina - A cold hit identifies rapist. 

·   Ohio - Cold hits solve 1989 murder (on database for robbery), led to confession in three murders (on database for felony DUI in Indiana), link man to rape and purse snatching (on database for murder, evidence from soda can).

·   Pennsylvania - DNA collected from gun leads to gun possession charges for gang member..   

·   Virginia - A cold hit led to charges in 1988 double murder (on California database).

 
OTHER DNA CASES OF NOTE:

Robber identified from discarded ski mask (California)

Soda can leads to DNA match in rape and purse snatching case (Washington) 

POLICY AND FUNDING ISSUES:

Expansion - South Dakota has enacted legislation for arrestee testing.  Other DNA database legislation in the news includes proposals in Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, Maryland, Utah, and Washington. Some Florida communities intend to take DNA upon felony arrest.  Missouri DNA laws are lauded by prosecutors (matches being made at 10 per week) but are criticized by defense lawyers.  Georgia legislation allows DNA from suspect to be compared against the database.

Funding - Tennessee's arrestee law implemented slowly due to funding restrictions.

Backlog -West Virginia's long backlog is a product of an inability to retain trained analysts.  Nevada accepted public donations to reduce backlog. Wisconsin backlog is down for the first time in five years. 

 

LEGAL ISSUES:

Kentucky Court of Appeals upholds databasing of DNA samples of juveniles adjudicated for sex offenses.

OTHER FORENSIC DNA ISSUES:

·   Post conviction - Mississippi released it's first inmate due to post conviction DNA testing. Wyoming is considering a post conviction testing bill, and Virginia legislation requires notification if DNA is found relating to a case. Mississippi, Ohio and Colorado are addressing evidence preservation issues.   

·   Twelve states are considering allowing DNA evidence to influence parole decisions. 

·   Illinois is creating a task force to determine why DNA samples are not being collected.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: 

Portugal has begun compiling a DNA database, and the Czech Republic is defining rules for its DNA database. Nairobi is using DNA evidence to solve the 1,200 rapes that occurred during post-election violence.  Russia completed a network of DNA testing labs.  India has set up its first DNA centre.

 

·    Japan - DNA connects a woman to her 3rd killing (on database for murder). A cold hit identifies killer of student (on database for murder). 

·    United Kingdom - DNA from coke can identified serial burglar. Cold hits led to a guilty plea in the murder of 5 prostitutes (on database for stealing) and a guilty sentence in rape.

·    Scotland - DNA match to sentencing in stabbing (on database for possession of knife).