Illustration of DNA (image courtesy of PBS)
When people are arrested for a suspected felony their fingerprints are taken. State Representative Rob Teilhet, who is also running for Attorney General, plans to introduce legislation allowing police to take DNA samples as well.
Right now fifteen states, and the FBI collect samples from people after arrest for suspected felonies. Sara Totonchi is with the Southern Center for Human Rights. She opposes the legislation and says it ignores the premise of innocent until proven guilty.
"This legislation would go ahead and presume that people are guilty in taking their DNA just at the time of arrest."
Representative Teilhet says in a session likely to be dominated by the budget the increased costs of collecting DNA could keep the measure from passing.
