Source/Full Story: The Cincinnati Enquirer
A justice reform bill endorsed by Gov. Ted Strickland and passed by the Senate designed to prevent wrongful convictions also includes a controversial measure to expand the collection of DNA samples to those arrested on felony charges.Currently, Ohio only takes DNA from people convicted of felonies and violent misdemeanors.
Law enforcement groups support the expansion, saying it gets violent offenders off the street quicker and prevents future crimes.
But others say DNA collection before conviction crosses the line, especially because the bill does not address what happens if a person isn’t convicted.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio opposes the measure, saying it poses a “myriad of civil liberty risks” including violating a person’s constitutional protections against illegal search and seizure, is ripe for abuse and is an invasion of privacy.
“This is certainly troubling,” said ACLU staff lawyer Carrie Davis. “There is no useful purpose of collecting DNA after arrest to avoid wrongful convictions and it poses all kinds of civil risks.
“Collecting DNA from all arrestees is a search and there should be some process, a court order or warrant, for a search,” Davis said.
The Hamilton County Police Association discussed the pending bill at its Wednesday meeting, agreeing that the DNA measure will help law enforcement.
“This is just another means of identification, it’s no more intrusive than fingerprints,” said Thomas Doyle, the association’s president and chief of police in Greenhills.
2 Comments
Collecting DNA on all felony arrests will save investigation time, prosecution time and it will save a lot of pain and lives! It can sometime take years for suspects to go through our criminal justice system. If DNA isn’t taken until conviction many victims will be waiting for years for answers while investigators continue to investigate the cases perhaps focusing on innocent people and going in the wrong direction.
DNA on Arrest will:
• Catch criminals earlier in their “careers”
• Reduce number of repeat offenders released into our communities
• Reduce plea bargains
• Bring closure to victims/loved ones who are waiting for justice
• Reduce number of victims and crimes being committed
• Reduce the re-victimization of victims
• Allow for consolidation of cases for serial criminals
• Increase likelihood of Guilty Pleas to full charges
• Increase the certainty of convictions and time sentenced
• Exonerate the wrongly accused sooner
• Solve more Cold Cases allowing for closure for victims
• Ultimately reduce costs to state and local governments and
• Balance the Scales of Justice
Just some useful purposes. The DNA Profile taken by law enforcement does not contain ANY medical , psychological or racial history. It merely identifies a person much like a bar code on a product in the stores. As far as an invasion of privacy, which would you rather see on the evening news if arrested; your mug shot or your DNA (Bar code). Taking a swab of the inside of a suspect’s cheek is less invasive than doing finger prints. Citizens, by law, have to identify themselves to law enforcement. This is just a means of identification. Thank you Governor Strickland for the foresight to recognize how crucial it is to collect DNA on all felony Arrests. Ohio will not be a safe haven for criminals. It will save lives and money!
If what you say is true, would it not be even better to simply have the State collect DNA at birth? Why bother waiting until one is “accused” of a felony?