May 15, 2004Cambridge, MA

Presented byTim Schellberg - Smith Alling Lane, P.S.Washington, DC (202) 258-2301Tacoma, WA (253) 627-1091London, UK (011) 44(0) 798 953 8386tims@smithallinglane.com

STATE EXPERIENCES WITH OFFENDER REGISTRIES

American Society of Law, Medicine & EthicsDNA Fingerprinting & Civil Liberties Workshop #1

Governmental Affairs Governmental Affairs

Attorneys at LawAttorneys at Law

Smith Alling LaneSmith Alling LaneA Professional Services CorporationA Professional Services Corporation

US DNA Database Legislative US DNA Database Legislative Time-LineTime-Line

1983 - California Legislature passes law to collect blood from certain offenders - “DNA” is not mentioned in statute

1988 - Colorado Legislature becomes the first to enact laws requiring DNA from sex offenders

1990 - Virginia Legislature becomes first to enact an all felons DNA law

1991 - Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) establishes guidelines on state sex offender DNA database laws- FBI begins promoting the passage of sex offender DNA

database laws- FBI develops CODIS concept

1992 - Majority of states begin passing laws to create DNA databases for sex offenders

Time-Line (continued)Time-Line (continued)

1994 - Congress enacts the DNA Identification Act -- CODIS is formally created

1996 - Congress enacts the Anti-Terror and Effective Death Penalty Act - a provision of the legislation encourages (requires) states to enact sex offender DNA database laws - Most states have sex offender DNA database statutes in place1997 - A majority of states begin focusing on expanding their database laws to include violent crimes and burglary

1999 - 50 states have enacted sex offender DNA database laws- 27 state DNA databases include violent crimes- 14 state DNA databases include burglary- 6 state DNA databases to include all convicted felons- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Criminal Defense Bar oppose all felons legislation in most states

Time-Line (continued)Time-Line (continued)

2000 - Congress enacts the DNA Backlog Elimination Act (appropriates $140 million to states for DNA analysis)

2001 - Preliminary data showing the success of the Virginia DNA database is released- ACLU and Criminal Defense Bar do not oppose all felons debate in most states- A surge in all felons legislation occurs - 7 more states enact laws, for a total of 14 states with all felon laws

2002 - All felons legislation surge continues - 8 more states laws, for a total of 22 states with all felon laws- Continued reliance on both Virginia data and federal funds- Congress begins work on the Debbie Smith Act- Virginia enacts limited arrestee DNA testing law

2003 - 9 additional states pass all felons legislation, for a total of 31 - Large federal appropriation pending - President’s DNA Initiative is introduced - Louisiana enacts comprehensive arrestee DNA testing law

The Recent Trend To All FelonsThe Recent Trend To All Felons1998 - 5 States 1999 - 6 States 2000 - 7 States

2006 - 45 States (est.) -- assuming data and funding

2001 - 13 States 2002 - 22 States 2003 – 31 States

2004 Legislative Session:2004 Legislative Session:DNA Database Expansion BillsDNA Database Expansion Bills

Considering limited expansion legislation (3)

Currently an all-felons state (31)Considering all felons legislation in 2004 (12)

Through a voters’ initiative*

*

Passed all felons expansion legislation in 2004 (3)

Perfecting Existing Perfecting Existing All Felons StatutesAll Felons Statutes

“All Felons” states that are not ALLALL FELONSFELONS:

Not RetroactiveColorado Delaware Georgia Iowa MinnesotaNorth Carolina Tennessee Texas Wisconsin

No JuvenilesDelaware Iowa Maryland Mississippi North Carolina

No Jailed Offenders Colorado Georgia Texas

No Community Corrections Colorado Texas

What is Driving the All Felons Legislation?

Crime Solving Data

Crime Prevention Capacity

Federal Money

Cost Benefit Analysis

Virginia’s “Cold Hits” on the DNA DatabaseAll Drug Offenders to Type of Crime Solved

Sex Offenses20% (35)

Miscellaneous12% (20)

Abduction/Car Jacking

8% (13)

Robbery10% (18)

Homicide24% (42)

Assaults2% (3)

Burglary24% (41)

Virginia’s “Cold Hits” on the DNA DatabaseDrug Possession Only to Type of Crime Solved

Assault3% (3)

Homicide23% (32)

Rape/Murder1% (1)

Sex Offenses18% (25)

Drug Crimes5% (7)

Miscellaneous2% (3)

Property Crimes48% (68)

Virginia’s “Cold Hits” on the DNA DatabaseForgery to Type of Crime Solved

Abduction / Car Jacking

2% (1)

Burglary49% (22)

Assault2% (1)

Rape/Murder2% (1)

Homicide17% (8)

Sex Offenses26% (12)

Miscellaneous2% (1)

Robbery2% (1)

Virginia’s “Cold Hits” on the DNA DatabaseJuveniles to Type of Crime Solved

Burglary56% (41)

Robbery9% (7)

Assault3% (2)

Homicide11% (8)

Rape/Murder1% (1)

Sex Offenses16% (12)

Abduction / Car Jacking

4% (3)

Emerging Database TrendsEmerging Database TrendsArrestee Testing Proposals

Arizona (2002, 2003) – All arrestsCalifornia (2004) – Felony arrestsColorado (2003) – Felony arrestsConnecticut (2000) – Fingerprintable arrestsIllinois (2004) – Felony arrestsLouisiana (2003) – Felony arrests and some misdemeanors

Maryland (2004) – Felony chargesNew Jersey (2004) – Violent felony arrestsNew York (2001-2004) Fingerprintable arrestsOklahoma (2004) – Felony arrestsTexas (2001) – Certain felony arrests and indictmentsVirginia (2002) – Violent felony arrestsWashington (2004) – Arrests for criminal charges

Enacted Arrestee Enacted Arrestee DNA TestingDNA Testing

Certain felony indictments, or upon arrest if previous conviction for a qualifying offense

Expungement required

Sample destruction required

All felony arrests

No expungement requirement

No sample destruction requirement

Violent felony arrests after determination that probable cause exists for the arrest

Expungement required

Sample destruction required

California DNA Initiative California DNA Initiative (#1029 - www.dnayes.org)(#1029 - www.dnayes.org)

Requires DNA from all convicted felons Probation and community corrections Juveniles Fully retroactive (including probationers & parolees) Includes all offenders in custody if there is a prior felony conviction

Requires DNA for all felony arrests in 5 years

Fee of $1 per every $10 for court ordered criminal fines Includes infractions of state vehicle code and local ordinances, but

excludes parking tickets. Money available to fund casework (Section IV, subsection 3).

Offender outsourcing required if backlog of 60 days

Database Legislation's Database Legislation's Relationship to CaseworkRelationship to Casework

Increased offender testing = increased casework

Legislature / Parliament

Summary of Legislation Scenarios Summary of Legislation Scenarios applied to 270 million US populationapplied to 270 million US population

0

5,000,000

10,000,000

15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

Suspects All Felons Violent Felons No Database

Samples Tested

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

Suspects All Felons Violent Offenders No Database

Samples Tested

CaseworkEstimated number of samples tested occurring on the eighth year after the passage of the legislation

Offender Samples

Estimated number of samples tested during the five year period after the passage of the legislation

USA Database Expansion Advocacy and OppositionAdvocacy and Opposition

Supporters

Police Associations

Prosecutor Association

Victims and Victim Associations

Opposition

American Civil Liberties Union

Criminal Defense Lawyers

Legislators and citizens concerned with loss of privacy

Problems Slowing Aggressive Growth of DNA Programs

Funding

Law enforcement has not taken ownership State agency having control of the crime lab Local law enforcement agencies

Centralization of Crime Lab expenses creates a negative effect on aggressive DNA casework Growth will require local money

The Future

All felons is here

All arrestees is coming

Laws will strike a balance between effectiveness and privacy Data will mandate larger databases Suspect databasing sample destruction

QUESTIONS