DNA Resource.com
March 2008 Report
News and Legislative updates for anyone seeking the latest information on forensic DNA policy and practice
 
 
 
MARCH
FEATURES
 
 
Congressional Hearing on Debbie Smtih DNA Backlog Funding
 
 
MARYLAND PASSES ARRESSTEE TESTING LAW
 
Maryland Study on Preventable Crimes From Arrestee Testing
 
 
North Carolina AG calls for more DNA funding
 
 
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The summary for the March 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:

● Arizona - a cold hit led to sentencing in a sex assault (match with California database).

●  California - A cold hit solved a sexual assault (on database for assault).

●  Florida - Cold hits identified a rapist (on database for driving without a license) and a murderer (on Georgia database). 

●  Hawaii - DNA linked a man to Japanese exchange student murder.

●  Illinois - DNA confirmed suspect in 1981 murder.

●  Indiana - A cold hit solved 1989 strangulation (on Florida database).

●  Maryland - Cold hits identified a murderer (on database for murder) and solved a 1985 murder (on database for rape).

●  Massachusetts - A cold hit led to sentencing in rape of young boy (on database for rape).

●  Missouri - Cold hits led to sentencing in a rape and cutting, solved a 1992 sexual assault (on database for robbery), and led to three life sentences for rape (on database for rape).

●  Nebraska - DNA led to arrest in 1977 rape and murder.

●  New York - Cold hits identified suspects in a sexual assault (on database for rape) and a 1983 rape and murder (on database for manslaughter). 

●  Oklahoma - A cold hit led to rape charges (on database for robbery and drug possession).

●  Pennsylvania - A cold hit identified potential killer in 1978 rape and homicide (match to Virginia database).

●  Tennessee - DNA solves 1975 rape and murder of student.

●  Texas - A cold hit linked a man to a third murder (on database for murder).

●  Vermont - A cold hit led to sentencing in 1991 rape and murder. 

●  Virginia - DNA exonerated teenager of sexual assault. A cold hit led to charges in 1993 rape.

●  Washington - DNA led to 41-year sentence for murder (collected from hair & cigarette butt).

●Wisconsin - A cold hit identified rapist (on Illinois database).    

OTHER DNA CASES OF NOTE:

Robber identified from discarded helmet (California).

New York police tailed a suspect to collect spit from the sidewalk, linking him to a murder. 

Murder solved from DNA in a glove (Illinois). 

POLICY AND FUNDING ISSUES:

Expansion -- Missouri legislation includes some juvenile offenders' samples in database. Proposed Florida legislation would expand the database to arrestees.  Oklahoma arrestee legislation passed House.  Maryland Legislature debates final approval of arrestee bill. Georgia legislation allows police to compare suspect's DNA with databases.

Backlog - Nevada lab clears backlog of 3,000 with private funds. Understaffing in Idaho's three crime labs is creating backlogs.  Washington's new database expansion will cause backlogs. 

OTHER FORENSIC DNA ISSUES:

·   Post-conviction - Wyoming and South Carolina act on bills allowing post-conviction DNA testing, and a Michigan bill allows exonerated inmates to sue the state. Colorado wrestles with legislation allowing DNA preservation for convicts.

·   Georgia legislation allows police to compare suspect's DNA with databases.

·   Kansas Supreme Court provided limited ruling against John Doe DNA arrest warrants.

·   A New Jersey convict looks to a new type of DNA testing to be exonerated.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: 

The Philippines and South Korea are planning new databases, and West Australia intends to expand its database.  The United Kingdom is using DNABoost to process samples quicker. South Australian Forensic Science Centre is asked to explain its backlog.

 

·  Canada - A cold hit led to a 3-year sentence for attack (collected from fingernail scrapings).

·   United Kingdom - Cold hits led to sentencing for two rapes (one on database for assault).