DNA evidence clearly is the most
significant new tool in criminology of the modern era. The sooner
DNA databases of convicted felons are established in every state,
the better.
The S.C. Senate Judiciary committee recently approved a bill
requiring all those convicted of a felony to submit their DNA for
storage in a statewide offender database. South Carolina already
requires all those convicted of violent crimes to submit DNA samples
for storage at the State Law Enforcement Division lab. By extending
the rule to all felons, South Carolina would join 23 other states
that have such databases.
DNA has enabled law enforcement officers not only to solve recent
crimes but also to crack cold cases. Last year, police used DNA
samples to solve the two-year-old murder of a teen-ager from Aiken
in the district of state Sen. Tommy Moore, D-Clearwater, who
introduced the DNA bill.
In addition to helping police track down the guilty, DNA also can
be crucial in clearing the innocent. DNA comparisons can determine
almost beyond the shadow of a doubt whether a suspect was at the
scene of the crime or not.
A DNA database including samples from all felons would not be
cheap. SLED estimates that processing and storing each sample costs
$250.
But future scientific advances could reduce that cost. And the
information provided by DNA is practically invaluable.
We hope lawmakers quickly approve this bill.
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In summary
South Carolina would join 23 other states with
comprehensive databases.
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