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Attorney
General DeWine...
New
Law
expands ability to collect DNA Data
May 17, 2012
(COLUMBUS,
Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today applauded the passing
of Senate
Bill 268, which was signed into law today 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.
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