Rep. Bauer renews his quest for DNA samples from felony suspects

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) said he and State Rep. Gregory Steuerwald (R-Danville) plan to reintroduce a bill to require collection of a DNA sample from suspects arrested for felonies.

This will be the third session in a row that the two legislators have introduced a DNA collection bill. Bauer said each year support for the legislation has grown.

“Third time is charm,’” said Bauer. “More than 30 states now require DNA collection from people who are arrested for felonies. It works. It gives police and prosecutors the tools to put repeat offenders behind bars. Too often, murderers and rapists commit multiple crimes, but, without DNA evidence, the suspects cannot be tied to their other violent offenses.

“Law enforcement understands the value of DNA collection,” added Bauer. “I believe legislators and the public are gaining an awareness of it as well. In particular, I appreciate the State Police now coming on board to support the measure. I expect the next governor of Indiana would also support DNA collection. I understand that State Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) is going to author a bill in the Senate. His support is beneficial and welcome.”

Bauer explained that the DNA procedure is no more intrusive than taking a fingerprint. He said the DNA sample is collected by swabbing a suspect’s inner cheek to painlessly collect cells. Bauer says DNA sampling is just a historical progression in crime fighting tools.

“DNA collection is like the 21st century version of fingerprinting,” offered Bauer. “Fingerprinting was a huge step forward in crime fighting in the late 19th century. It is time for us to update investigative technical capabilities to utilize the tools available now in the 21st century. We’ll put more violent criminals behind bars. Solve more crimes. And with repeat murderers and rapists off the street, we’ll prevent quite a few violent crimes. I might add that DNA sampling also helps to clear people who have been falsely accused of crimes, which is important as well.”

In August of 2015, Jayann Sepich, a mother whose 22-year-old daughter was brutally raped and murdered in New Mexico in 2013, testified before the Interim Study Committee on Corrections & Criminal Code. Sepich gave examples of how DNA collection could have prevented violent crimes. She said a study in Chicago tracked the history of eight convicted felons. If DNA had been taken during the arrest of each of those men, 53 rapes and murders would have been prevented.

A study by an economist at the University of Virginia determined that a savings of more than $21 billion was realized in the United States, in one year alone, by expanding U.S. databases to include more offender profiles. The study also showed that for every $30 invested in DNA collection, a state would save $27,000 in taxpayer money.

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that requiring a forensic DNA sample upon felony arrest preserves constitutional rights and is a reasonable and legitimate police booking procedure, much like fingerprinting or photographing someone who has been arrested.