Post by CCADP on Aug 13, 2005 20:44:22 GMT -5
DNA database law expected to strain OSBI resources
A new state law will quadruple part of the Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation's DNA caseload -- but there may not be enough qualified
workers to do the job.
Senate Bill 646, which takes effect Jan. 1, requires all felons -- newly
convicted or already incarcerated -- to provide DNA samples to be entered
into a law enforcement database for comparison to DNA from other cases
nationwide.
The law is expected to increase the number of DNA profiles handled by the
OSBI from about 5,000 a year to about 20,000.
"This legislation will undoubtedly lead to the capture and conviction of
criminals who are committing some of the most horrific crimes," said Sen.
Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, the bill's author and a former Cleveland
County prosecutor.
Only one OSBI staffer
But staffing problems could cause a backlog of cases, limiting the law's
effectiveness. Jessica Brown, OSBI spokeswoman, said only one person at
OSBI is qualified to enter DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Indexing
System, or CODIS.
"Our continuing issue with manpower in our laboratories, especially our
DNA laboratory, is we hire people and start training them ... and it takes
up to three years to get them fully trained," Brown said. "Once they get
to that point, they start getting offers from the FBI and private
companies who want to hire them."
Because the state cannot afford to compete with the federal government or
the private sector, she said, most lab hires are recent college graduates
with little experience.
Recruiting and 1st-year training costs total about $120,000 per hire, she
said. New lab workers earn about $30,000 a year.
"All of this technology is great at taking criminals off the streets ...
but it all comes with a price tag," Brown said.
For now, the price may be too steep. Brown said the state has approved the
hiring of another senior criminalist to work in the DNA lab, but "we don't
have adequate funding to fill our vacancies."
That's why the law, which was approved in June, isn't going into effect
until January, Nichols said.
"OSBI assured us that this would provide them time to secure available
federal grants to offset much of the costs," Nichols said. "If there are
any remaining costs, the Legislature must be committed to addressing these
next session."
Federal grants do pick up much of the tab, Brown said. In simple terms,
here's how it works:
A DNA sample is collected from a felon and sent to a private lab. The lab,
paid by federal grant money, analyzes the sample and produces a numerical
DNA profile.
The profile is submitted to the OSBI on a computer disc, and the data is
entered into the CODIS database.
The database checks the profile against others in the database. The state
database contains about 33,000 profiles. The national database has about
2.4 million.
If no match is found, the profile remains in the database for comparison
with future entries. If a match is found, the results must be
double-checked by OSBI lab workers, who acquire a fresh DNA sample from
the felon and perform their own analysis. This currently takes up to 90
days.
Felons required to help
Brown said the OSBI will ask for -- and expects to receive -- a
supplemental appropriation of $650,000 during the next legislative
session. In addition, the new law should provide some funding, as felons
will be charged $150 apiece to pay for lab work.
Oklahoma County Public Defender Bob Ravitz said that section of the law
could pose problems.
The CODIS database was originally designed to hold DNA profiles of violent
and sexual offenders. Under the new law, Ravitz said, shoplifters and
other low-level felons will have to pay to have their DNA profiles entered
into the same database as murderers and rapists.
"That's different from the purpose the database was created for. ... I
think that's a general due-process issue," Ravitz said.
"My concern is if we stretch it to all felonies, next year we'll stretch
it to all misdemeanors, and the year after that to all traffic offenses.
Where do you draw the line?"
(source for both: The Oklahoman)
A new state law will quadruple part of the Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation's DNA caseload -- but there may not be enough qualified
workers to do the job.
Senate Bill 646, which takes effect Jan. 1, requires all felons -- newly
convicted or already incarcerated -- to provide DNA samples to be entered
into a law enforcement database for comparison to DNA from other cases
nationwide.
The law is expected to increase the number of DNA profiles handled by the
OSBI from about 5,000 a year to about 20,000.
"This legislation will undoubtedly lead to the capture and conviction of
criminals who are committing some of the most horrific crimes," said Sen.
Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, the bill's author and a former Cleveland
County prosecutor.
Only one OSBI staffer
But staffing problems could cause a backlog of cases, limiting the law's
effectiveness. Jessica Brown, OSBI spokeswoman, said only one person at
OSBI is qualified to enter DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Indexing
System, or CODIS.
"Our continuing issue with manpower in our laboratories, especially our
DNA laboratory, is we hire people and start training them ... and it takes
up to three years to get them fully trained," Brown said. "Once they get
to that point, they start getting offers from the FBI and private
companies who want to hire them."
Because the state cannot afford to compete with the federal government or
the private sector, she said, most lab hires are recent college graduates
with little experience.
Recruiting and 1st-year training costs total about $120,000 per hire, she
said. New lab workers earn about $30,000 a year.
"All of this technology is great at taking criminals off the streets ...
but it all comes with a price tag," Brown said.
For now, the price may be too steep. Brown said the state has approved the
hiring of another senior criminalist to work in the DNA lab, but "we don't
have adequate funding to fill our vacancies."
That's why the law, which was approved in June, isn't going into effect
until January, Nichols said.
"OSBI assured us that this would provide them time to secure available
federal grants to offset much of the costs," Nichols said. "If there are
any remaining costs, the Legislature must be committed to addressing these
next session."
Federal grants do pick up much of the tab, Brown said. In simple terms,
here's how it works:
A DNA sample is collected from a felon and sent to a private lab. The lab,
paid by federal grant money, analyzes the sample and produces a numerical
DNA profile.
The profile is submitted to the OSBI on a computer disc, and the data is
entered into the CODIS database.
The database checks the profile against others in the database. The state
database contains about 33,000 profiles. The national database has about
2.4 million.
If no match is found, the profile remains in the database for comparison
with future entries. If a match is found, the results must be
double-checked by OSBI lab workers, who acquire a fresh DNA sample from
the felon and perform their own analysis. This currently takes up to 90
days.
Felons required to help
Brown said the OSBI will ask for -- and expects to receive -- a
supplemental appropriation of $650,000 during the next legislative
session. In addition, the new law should provide some funding, as felons
will be charged $150 apiece to pay for lab work.
Oklahoma County Public Defender Bob Ravitz said that section of the law
could pose problems.
The CODIS database was originally designed to hold DNA profiles of violent
and sexual offenders. Under the new law, Ravitz said, shoplifters and
other low-level felons will have to pay to have their DNA profiles entered
into the same database as murderers and rapists.
"That's different from the purpose the database was created for. ... I
think that's a general due-process issue," Ravitz said.
"My concern is if we stretch it to all felonies, next year we'll stretch
it to all misdemeanors, and the year after that to all traffic offenses.
Where do you draw the line?"
(source for both: The Oklahoman)