FORENSIC DNA FORENSIC DNA Legislative Update Legislative Update Future Trends in Forensic DNA Technology Applied Biosystems Seminar August 26, 2008 Washington, DC Presented by: Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs Lisa Hurst [email protected]Washington, DC (202) 251-8978
44
Embed
FORENSIC DNA Legislative Update FORENSIC DNA Legislative Update Future Trends in Forensic DNA Technology Applied Biosystems Seminar August 26, 2008 Washington,
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Politicians have significant role in Politicians have significant role in determining how forensic DNA is useddetermining how forensic DNA is used
Statute of
LimitationsPost
Conviction
Databases
Funding $$Backlog &
Turn-around
Evidence
Retention
DNA DATABASE DNA DATABASE EXPANSIONEXPANSION
Previously passed laws for felony arrestees (11)
Introduced arrestee legislation in 2008 (22)
Update on DNA Database Expansion 2008 Legislative Sessions
No legislative session in (4)
Introduced significant misdemeanor legislation in 2008 (4)
NO law for all convicted felons yet (5)
Introduced all convicted felons law in 2008 (2)
*
* Suspect legislation
EXPANSION TO EXPANSION TO CONVICTED FELONSCONVICTED FELONS
History of Expansion to All Convicted Felons
1999 - 2000 - 7 States 2001 - 12 States 2002 - 21 States
2003 – 30 States 2004 – 38 States 2005 – 43 States
2006 – 44 States 2007 – 45 States
Update on DNA Database Expansion Update on DNA Database Expansion 2008 Legislative Sessions2008 Legislative SessionsALL CONVICTED FELONSALL CONVICTED FELONS
Collects from all convicted felons (46)
Passed all convicted felons law in 2008 (1)
Failed all convicted felons law in 2008 (1)
*
* Only felons in state prison
EXPANSION TO FELONY EXPANSION TO FELONY ARRESTSARRESTS
History of Expansion to Felony Arrestees
2001 - 1 States 2002 - 2 States 2003 – 3 States
2004 –4 States 2005 – 5 States
2006 – 7 States 2007 – 11 States
ENACTED (2)
Governor Veto (1)
Arrestee DNA Databases 2008 State Legislative Sessions
Bill is still viable (1)
Bill has died (19)
Previously passed arrestee legislation (11)
• All felony arrests
• Expungement upon request
• No additional state funding
HISTORY
• Current Governor was Baltimore Mayor. As Mayor proposed arrestee testing.
• First year in office, Governor puts significant new funding into DNA lab.
• Second year in office, Governor Proposes arrestee testing
– Violent felonies, burglary, breaking and entering
– Expungement upon request
– Funding included
FINAL LEGISLATION
• Certain felony arrestees (violent and burglary)
• Automatic expungement
• Sample collected at booking but no analysis until arraignment
• Sunsets in 5 years
• Requires study on racial make-up of database
• No familial searching
• $1.3 million in funding
PROPOSED:
All Felony arrestees
Expungement upon request
AMENDED:
Automatic expungement
Sample destruction
No sharing of arrestee samples with foreign law enforcement entities
FINAL VERSION:
All Felony arrestees
Automatic Expungement
GOVERNOR VETO
OVERRIDE VOTE PENDING….
DNA Fingerprint Act passed by Congress in 2006
FBI Proposed Rule published, implementation to begin in 2009
Law applies to ANY arrest (including misdemeanors) made under federal authority, and to non US citizens who are sent to detention facilities
Estimated annual collections: one million samples• 150,000 federal arrestees• 850,000 detainees
Illegal Immigration and Federal Illegal Immigration and Federal Arrestees DatabaseArrestees Database
WHAT IS DRIVING WHAT IS DRIVING ARRESTEE DATABASE ARRESTEE DATABASE
LEGISLATION?LEGISLATION?
DEBBIE SMITH
Sexually Assaulted 1989, Database match in 1996
Advocated for convicted felon databasing in all states
Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Act 2004
PATTY SCOVILLE
MURDERED 1991
Database match in 2005, Conviction in 2008
Patty’s parents (David & Ann Scoville)
Advocated for all convicted felon legislation in all states (particularly Vermont and New York)
KEITH AND PATRICE HARRINGTON (Married 3 months)
Murdered 1980
East Area Rapist – Original Night Stalker identity still unknown
Considered responsible for 10 murders and over 50 rapes
FUNDED PROPOSITION 69 (CALIFORNIA) PASSED IN 2004
Bruce Harrington (Keith’s Brother)
KATIE SEPICH
Murdered 2003
Database match in 2006, Conviction in 2007
KATIE’S LAW (NEW MEXICO) ENACTED IN 2006
Katie’s Mother (Jayann Sepich)
BONNIE CRAIG
Murdered 1994
Database match in 2007, Pending Trial
ALASKA HB 90 SIGNED INTO LAW IN 2007
INCLUDES 90 DAY TURNAROUND TIME
Bonnie Craig’s mother (Karen Foster)
JOHNIA BERRY
MURDERED 2004
Suspect confirmed by DNA in 2007, Committed Suicide March 2008
JOHNIA BERRY ACT (TENNESSEE) SIGNED INTO LAW IN 2007
Johnia’s parents (Joan and Michael) pictured standing behind Governor
JULI BUSKEN
MURDERED 1996
Database match in 2003, Conviction in 2006
Juli’s Parents (Bud and Mary Jean)
JULI’S LAW (OKLAHOMA)
PASSED HOUSE 2008 – PENDING SENATE ACTION
BRITTANY PHILLIPS
Murdered 2004
No Database Match Yet
Brittany’s mother (Maggie Zingman)
TO CATCH A KILLER CARAVAN
MULTIPLE STATES (esp. Oklahoma & Florida)
JONBENET RAMSEY
Murdered 1996
No Database Match Yet
JonBenet’s Father (John Ramsey)
CALLING ON ALL LEGISLATORS TO PASS ARRESTEE DATABASE LAWS
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT VICTIM IN YOUR STATE?
KATIE’S LAW SUCCESSVictoria Sandoval11 year old raped and murdered Halloween 2005
In her bed at grandparents
Robert GonzalesQuickly identified as a suspect
Confesses during interrogation
DNA does not match but investigators certain
Found competent to stand trial in Dec 2007
Israel DiazArrested for felony burglary in April 2008
DNA match made in June
Located in federal custody – facing deportation
No link made between Gonzales and Diaz
FEDERAL FUNDINGFEDERAL FUNDING
President’s DNA Initiative / Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grants
FISCAL YEAR 2004President’s Budget $151 millionHouse Proposal $151 millionSenate Proposal $34 millionFinal Compromise $98.9 million
FISCAL YEAR 2005President’s Budget $151 millionHouse Proposal $151 millionSenate Proposal $100 millionFinal Compromise $108.5 million
FISCAL YEAR 2006President’s Budget $151 millionHouse Proposal $151 millionSenate Proposal $89.5 millionFinal Compromise $107.145 million
FISCAL YEAR 2007President’s Budget $151 millionHouse Proposal $151 millionSenate Proposal $151 millionFinal Compromise None reached (funded at 2006
Federal grant programs (such as the Debbie Smith / NIJ DNA grants) must be authorized before money can be appropriated to them.
Federal programs are typically authorized to continue for several years.Money alloted to the program must be determined every year through the
appropriations process. Funds up to the amount authorized may be appropriated for each year.
The President’s DNA Initiative had authority to operate for five years (through 2008). The Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grants are authorized through 2009.
2009 is the last year Congress can legally appropriate money to DNA grant programs, under the current law.
IS FY 2009 THE END OF FEDERAL DNA GRANTS?
HR 5057 Reauthorizes the Debbie Smith DNA Grants through 2014
HR 5057 SponsorRep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
HR 5057 Co-SponsorRep. John Conyers (D-MI)Judiciary Committee Chair
HR 5057 Co-SponsorRep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)
Judiciary Committee Ranking Member
REAUTHORIZES DNA GRANTS AT $151 MILLION PER YEAR
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE! Pending in Senate…
HOUSE VERSION:
Increases grants from $151 million per year to $200 million per year
•Condition of eligibility is a state law to require DNA from all convicted felons
$50 million in additional funding authorized for “DNA Technology Enhancements”
Studies on feasibility and desirability of :•Private lab uploading •More limited technical review requirements•Greater use of contractors for technical review•Immediate upload of analyzed rape and murder evidence
Creation of NDIS Advisory Board
Study on resources needed to eliminate backlog and, once eliminated, how to prevent it from reoccurring
Incentive to expand to murder and sex offender arrestees
Incentives to create self-funding mechanisms
Study on integrity and security of DNA collection and storage procedures to determine “extent to which DNA samples are tampered with or otherwise contaminated in crime laboratories.”
Studies on cold hit follow up
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY)