New DNA Law allows authorities to collect DNA from ‘probable cause’ suspects

COLUMBUS – Ohio Attor­ney Gen­eral Mike DeWine applauds the pass­ing of Sen­ate Bill 268, which was signed into law May 15 by Ohio Gov­er­nor John Kasich. The law gives inves­ti­ga­tors expanded abil­ity to col­lect DNA from a per­son who author­i­ties have prob­a­ble cause to believe com­mit­ted a felony crime.

“The new law will help expand our DNA data­base and ulti­mately lead to iden­ti­fy­ing sus­pects in many crim­i­nal inves­ti­ga­tions,” said Attor­ney Gen­eral DeWine. “This will help law enforce­ment get jus­tice for crime vic­tims and get vio­lent crim­i­nals off the streets.”

Sen­ate Bill 268 closes sev­eral gaps left open by Sen­ate Bill 77, which went into effect last year. Sen­ate Bill 77 allowed for DNA col­lec­tion only from those who had been arrested for a felony crime. The new law now allows spec­i­men col­lec­tion from any­one who is indicted by a grand jury or sum­moned into court on felony charges.

The new law also pro­tects those who are required to give a DNA sam­ple, but are later found not guilty of the sus­pected crime. If a jury returns a not guilty ver­dict, or if the case is dis­missed, the case record and all DNA pro­files can be sealed.

The new law goes into effect in 90 days.

Posted by Rob Hamilton on May 22 2012. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS Feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.