DNA Testing of Arrestees (H 5132, S 120)

The ACLU, the Public Defender and the Urban League all testified in opposition to legislation that would have required the collection of DNA samples from any person arrested for a felony.  This practice flies in the face of the presumption of innocence which is the backbone of our criminal justice system, and would be a dangerous step towards creation of a DNA database cataloging every person in the nation.  The legislation passed the Senate in May, but failed to move out of committee in the House.