House Republican Press Release

March 31, 2008

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Kalinowski:  DNA Bank Bill Advances

Measure Requiring Certain Arrested Persons to Have DNA Info

Banked Passes Judiciary Committee

HARTFORD- State Representative Ray Kalinowski (R-Durham) today announced that legislation he has co-sponsored that would allow for DNA testing of persons arrested for Class A and Class B felonies prior to their release from custody has been favorably voted out of the Judiciary Committee and will move on to the full legislature for action.  The Judiciary vote was unanimous.

Kalinowski testified in favor of the bill last week.  Raised Bill 692, An Act Requiring DNA Testing of Certain Persons, would help law enforcement properly identify serious repeat criminals by expanding their DNA database resources.

“Eleven other states have enacted legislation requiring DNA sampling for some felony arrests,” said Kalinowski.  “DNA sampling upon arrest of individuals will aid crime victims and bring closure to cold cases, and allow for the timely and accurate identification of both criminals and those who have been wrongfully incarcerated.”

Kalinowski noted the objections of some to creating such a database. “Those opposed to this concept have stated that obtaining DNA sampling is an intrusive violation of one’s right to privacy and a government body has no right to maintain such a database because it is the exclusive property of an individual,” he said.  “The courts however have always held that the state may create and store photographic and fingerprint records that establish a permanent record of identity of all arrested individuals.  If police are allowed to keep fingerprints or a photograph as a biometric identifier, it is hard to see why they cannot keep a DNA profile properly limited to identifiable characteristics.”

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn at midnight on Wednesday, May 7^th, 2008.