On Wednesday (August 1), New York State’s all-crimes DNA bill went into effect.
This law makes New York the first state in the nation to require collection of DNA samples from anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor. Previously, less than half of all defendants convicted of a Penal Law offense were required to provide a DNA sample.
Even with its limited information, the DNA databank provided leads in nearly over two thousand convictions. DNA evidence has also led to the exoneration of nearly thirty New Yorkers who were wrongly convicted.
It is believed that a complete DNA databank will be even more effective in helping to convict the guilty, exonerating the innocent, and giving attorneys and court officials more reliable evidence to better protect the rights of all New Yorkers.
For more information on the new DNA law click here.
