COLUMBIA--Convicted felons would be required to submit their DNA to be stored in a statewide offender database under a bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Police, prosecutors and advocates for crime victims say it will help law enforcement solve cold cases and apprehend criminals more quickly.

"The idea of expanding the number of criminals whose DNA is on file is an excellent idea," said Vicki Bourus, executive director of the S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

Prosecutor Randolph Murdaugh said DNA evidence is powerful in prosecuting criminals. "I haven't lost a case yet involving DNA evidence."

Criminal defense attorneys argue that the chances for human error in collecting, processing and storing DNA will increase along with the number of samples involved.

"Anytime there is a human element involved in collecting scientific evidence, there is a risk of contamination," said Beaufort County Public Defender Gene Hood. "There could be negligence on the part of the person conducting the test. In the past, people have even phonied-up evidence."

South Carolina currently requires all those convicted of violent crimes to submit DNA for storage at the State Law Enforcement Division lab.

The lab currently has about 25,000 samples, said SLED Lt. Richard Hunton.

Making the donation of DNA samples mandatory for all felons would increase the database by thousands of entries each year.

SLED Chief Robert Stewart said his agency is strongly encouraging the state to follow the lead set by 23 other states that have expanded their DNA databases to include all felons.

"Georgia has already implemented the all felons law," Stewart said. "And we're beginning to get hits on our DNA database."

One such hit last summer solved a cold murder case.

Police had searched for two years for clues to solve the murder of a 17-year-old girl from Aiken.

In August, when an Augusta, Ga., package delivery man who violated his parole was required by Georgia law to submit a DNA sample, a national FBI database linked the submission to a DNA sample taken from the murder scene and stored at SLED.

"We've got him charged with that now," Stewart said.