November 12, 2003

ROMNEY SIGNS LAW TO EXPAND STATE DNA DATABASE

SUDBURY – Declaring that “the long arm of the law just got a little longer,” Governor Mitt Romney today visited the State Police Crime Lab to sign legislation requiring all convicted felons to provide DNA samples to the state’s database.

“I want to make sure that our law enforcement officials have the best possible tools at their disposal to do their jobs and keep our neighborhoods safe,” Romney said. “The state’s DNA database is one of the most important tools they have.”

The new law requires every convicted felon in the Bay State, including those now incarcerated or on parole, to provide a DNA sample to the state database. The prior law only required felons convicted of 33 sex-related and violent crimes to submit such samples. Studies indicate that by the time a defendant is convicted of one of these designated offenses, he or she has already committed 34 other crimes on average.

The current database has approximately 20,000 samples. With the expanded law, the number is expected to grow to 100,000 in just a few years.

Romney said 28 other states have similar laws in place, helping law enforcement officers compare crime scene evidence against DNA samples for known offenders. Virginia’s all-felon DNA database has resulted in 1,100 “cold hits.” Only 15 percent of those cases would have been solved if the Virginia database had been limited to violent offenses.

“DNA evidence can help get dangerous criminals off the street sooner rather than later,” said Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey, a criminologist. “It saves lives and protects innocent, law-abiding citizens.”

The new law also extends the time period for an offender to submit the DNA sample from 90 days to one year from the date of conviction, preventing criminals from slipping through legal or administrative loopholes.

Romney and Healey were joined at the bill signing ceremony by John and Magi Bish of Warren, whose daughter, Molly, was murdered in June 2000. Her killer has never been identified and the Bishes lobbied lawmakers to expand the DNA database to make it easier to track down criminals.

“Our family has been personally touched by this issue,” said John Bish. “The tragic loss of our daughter Molly has taught us about the importance of DNA testing. It is our hope that the expansion of the state DNA database will lead to the increased conviction of serious offenders and spare families from the unexpected and unexplained loss of a loved one.”

“As a former criminal prosecutor, I feel strongly that we should provide our law enforcement officials with the tools they need to solve crimes and get criminals off the street,” said state Senator Cheryl Jacques. “This new law will send a clear signal to criminals – that you can run, but you can’t hide.”

“The expanded DNA database will allow law enforcement to track down repeat offenders and lock them up,” said state Representative Reed Hillman, former Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. “I applaud the Governor and Lieutenant Governor for their support of this important law that will help keep our cities and towns safer.”

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