New Law Also Expands Access to DNA Testing and Discovery for Defendants
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that
the groundbreaking law expanding New York State’s DNA Databank by requiring
anyone convicted of any felony or Penal Law misdemeanor to provide a DNA sample
is now effective.
The new law also includes expanded access to DNA
Databank comparisons for certain criminal defendants, allowing them to
obtain DNA testing before trial or after a guilty plea to demonstrate their
innocence.
In addition, the law provides for greater access
to discovery of evidence after conviction where innocence is claimed.
“New York is the first state to expand its DNA
Databank so dramatically, once again leading the way for the rest of the
nation,” Governor Cuomo stated.
“This new law will enhance the effectiveness and
fairness of the state’s criminal justice system by using this powerful
technology to its fullest potential. This expansion will help solve and prevent
crimes, bring justice to victims and prove innocence for the wrongfully
convicted – and above all make our neighborhoods safer for New Yorkers.”
Prior to this law, New York State permitted DNA
to be collected from only 48 percent of offenders convicted of a Penal Law
crime, which comprised of only those individuals who were convicted of a felony
or one of 36 misdemeanors under the Penal Law.
As of today, DNA samples will be collected from
anyone convicted of a Penal Law misdemeanor or a felony in any state law – such
as felony driving while intoxicated under the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
“DNA Databank expansion was the centerpiece of
Governor Cuomo’s 2012 legislative agenda because he understood the critical
importance of this technology,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Safety
Elizabeth Glazer.
“This new law will help stop offenders from
victimizing another person and assist law enforcement in finding the true
perpetrator of a crime, so that New York’s criminal justice system can better
carry out its purpose.”
Executive Deputy Commissioner of the State
Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Michael C. Green noted, “Those of
us who have spent our careers on the front lines of fighting crime knew that we
were missing opportunities to bring offenders to justice sooner, and prevent
future victimization. DNA technology allows for the exoneration of the wrongfully
convicted, and is a powerful investigative tool to help police accurately
identify those who commit crimes as soon as possible.”
“DNA technology has transformed the criminal
justice system in New York State. Many criminals committing lesser, precursor crimes,
were not previously included in the Databank,” said New York State Police
Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico.
“Now, the expansion of the DNA Databank, to
include all crimes, provides law enforcement the additional tool that will
prove invaluable in solving crimes committed by repeat offenders, exonerating
the innocent and making our communities safer.”
The law is not retroactive and does not apply to
children involved in Family Court matters or to youthful offenders. In
addition, first-time offenders convicted of low-level marijuana possession
(Penal Law Section 221.10, subsection 1) will not be required to provide a DNA
sample.
Taking a DNA sample is not an invasive process:
convicted offenders rub the inside of their cheek with a swab. The New York
State Police Forensic Investigation Center uses an automated process to convert
that material into a numerical profile that is unique to that offender.
The profile is only used to match convicted
offenders to evidence found at a crime scene and link crimes that may involve
the same perpetrator.
The profile cannot be used for any other purpose
because the DNA is extracted from locations on the strand that cannot identify
the person’s race, appearance, health or behavior.
Since its creation in 1996, the DNA Databank has
helped New York State prosecutors obtain nearly 3,000 convictions, including in
1,470 burglary cases, 626 sexual offense cases, and 202 murder cases. DNA
evidence also has helped exonerate 27 New Yorkers and exclude countless others
from suspicion, often at the earliest stages of investigation.
With more offender samples being collected, the
likelihood that more crimes will be solved increases, starting with new samples
being matched against more than 40,000 crime scene samples – each representing
an unsolved crime – currently in the state’s DNA Databank.
The Forensic Investigation Center in Albany is
home to the state’s DNA Databank, and the DCJS Office of Forensic Services
provides administrative oversight of the Databank.
The Forensic Investigation Center can process
10,000 DNA samples from convicted offenders each month. This expansion will not
create a backlog.
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