DNA bill finds growing support; cost, civil rights issue a concern for Van Hollen

[undeterred]

Madison — A bill to have DNA taken from accused felony offenders upon arrest instead of conviction is gaining momentum in the Assembly but has not received the endorsement of the state's top law enforcement official.

Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is concerned about the $6.4 million the bill would cost in its first year and said officials must think very carefully about whether the bill infringes too much on civil liberties. "The biggest problem that I see is that there are a lot of things we could do to benefit public safety, but we have to find the resources to do those things," he said. "If we are going to start collecting DNA at the time of arrest, it is going to require the Legislature to cut spending somewhere else to come up with the resources we need to fund this initiative."

Rep. Ann Hraychuck (D-Balsam Lake) and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) introduced their DNA bill in October after officials reported the state hadn't taken DNA samples from about 12,000 felons it should have. The problem was discovered during the investigation of suspected Milwaukee serial killer Walter E. Ellis, whose DNA should have been taken when he was in prison in 2001 but wasn't.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle has endorsed the idea, and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) said recently that he likes the plan but wants to study it more. "It's another issue I have to understand better but, shooting from the hip, I am supportive of it because I know we can save a lot of heartache in this country," Sheridan said. "But I also know the devil's in the details, so I definitely want to get more information before making final decisions."

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/80148687.html

[RevCheesehead]

1. So much for "presumed innocent."

This idea looks like a nightmare to me.

[undeterred]

2. It seems like an overreaction to the mistake of not collecting DNA

from prisoners. They should keep fixing the mistake, but not waste money on collecting DNA from every single arrest, especially while its still an expensive technology.

[Dinger]

7. Same Here

I think it would be struck down rather quickly as unconstitutional, even with zigler and gableman & the rest.

[dragonlady]

3. Many nonfelons would probably be caught up in this

Anybody with the same name as another perpetrator could be brought in on an arrest warrant and have a DNA sample taken before the mistake was discovered. Would that innocent person's DNA be discarded?

Bad idea before trial and conviction (and if the conviction is overturned on appeal, the sample should be discarded also).

[midnight]

4. This is because some prisoner didn't have his dna taken? This is over the top.

Mr. Sheridan, you're are darn right that devil is in the details.... I'm tired of prison planet primitive strikes. Stop excusing sadness with the need to treat us all like prisoners...

[undeterred]

6. This is because 12,000 felons didn't have their DNA taken.

The problem goes back through several attorney generals.

[HelenWheels]

5. Give Van Hollen credit

for not jumping on the bandwagon to satisfy the "soft on crime" idiots. I'm not a fan of J.B but at least he's thinking this one over. One of my relatives works in the Madison Crime Lab and they were told no vacation time can be taken until every thing is cleared up before the primary election in April. He wants to be reelected.