All-Crimes DNA
Law a Powerful Crimefighting Tool To Help Protect New Yorkers <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Senator
Alesi announced today that Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the DNA Databank
Expansion legislation into law. Earlier
this month, the Senate voted to approve the legislation that will implement the
largest expansion of the State’s DNA databank since it was first created in
1994.
The
databank expansion will help close thousands of unsolved cases, bring justice
to crime victims, and help prevent dangerous criminals from committing
additional crimes.
“This
is a huge victory for all New Yorkers concerned about protecting our
communities and keeping our loved ones safe and free from harm,” said Senator
Alesi. “By dramatically expanding the
DNA databank, we are providing police and district attorneys with a powerful
tool to help protect our families and local communities from dangerous
criminals.”
The
Senate previously approved a DNA databank expansion bill last year with the
strong support of district attorneys and crime victims’ advocates from throughout
the state. Governor Andrew Cuomo also
included a similar measure as part of his 2012 Executive Budget, and the Senate
passed a bill in January that mirrored his proposal.
The
new law requires anyone convicted of a felony or penal law misdemeanor to provide
a DNA sample -- dramatically expanding the information pool used by law
enforcement and prosecutors.
Since
its inception, the State’s DNA databank has transformed criminal investigations
and prosecutions to make them more accurate and effective, in addition to
helping exonerate the innocent. However,
up to this point DNA has only been collected from fewer than half of convicted
criminals because the previous law did not include certain crimes. This hampered
the ability of law enforcement to solve crimes, and enabled some criminals to
remain free to commit additional acts of violence.
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