Mass considers expanding DNA database

WWLP TV

Updated: Feb 7, 2012 6:19 PM

BOSTON, Mass. (WWLP) — A woman who identified herself only as “Amy” testified before the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee Tuesday in favor of a bill that seeks to expand the state’s  DNA database.  In 1996, she said a man broke into her home and raped her at knife-point.  She was 22-years-old.

“Although he terrorized me for 45-minutes, I never saw his face and I could not even provide information for law enforcement to create a sketch,” said Amy.

What authorities did have was his unique DNA profile, a digital fingerprint precise enough to ensure pinpoint accuracy down to one in a billion.  For reasons like this, lawmakers are proposing a bill that expands the state’s DNA database by requiring people arrested for felony charges to provide a DNA sample after arraignment rather than after conviction.

“We’re going to do it sooner or later.  It is the fingerprint of the future, if you will,” said Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe.

But critics question whether storing a person’s DNA profile is an invasion of privacy or whether the information can be misused. 

The lead sponsor of the bill, Sen. Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester) said there would be strict penalties against the mishandling of information.  He added that a person’s DNA profile would not disclose their name, race or any other personal traits.  “We would not correlate the DNA information with a particular name for the purposes of identification until a match is made and then that information would be useful,” said Tarr.

If a person is found not guilty, the bill would also ensure their DNA information would be destroyed and removed from the state database. 

 

Copyright 2012 WWLP TV. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Political Pulse

We welcome your thoughtful comments. Be the first to participate in the discussion. All comments will display your username and avatar.