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Experts, survivor urge expanded DNA collection as Judiciary Committee considers law to close collection gaps
Summary
Researchers and advocates told the Senate Judiciary Committee that enlarging Tennessee's CODIS database and standardizing DNA collection from incarcerated and deceased offenders can solve cold cases and deter repeat offenders; the committee approved a bill standardizing collection and adding deceased incarcerated offenders to the database.
Researchers, a survivor of a 1990s sexual assault and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) staff told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 25 that expanding and standardizing DNA collection will increase the number of matches from CODIS, help solve cold cases and may act as a deterrent for repeat violent offenders.
John Roman, director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at NORC at the University of Chicago, summarized two decades of research showing that larger offender databases improve investigative outcomes and that DNA collection at crime scenes is substantially more effective than alternative investigative tools in certain crimes. "CODIS can reduce crime in 3 ways, through specific deterrents, general deterrents, and by directly aiding criminal investigations," Roman said.
He cited research finding that testing biological evidence from residential burglary scenes identified a perpetrator in about 31% of cases where DNA was used compared with roughly 12% in comparable cases without DNA collection. Roman said the cost of DNA collection and testing can be modest relative to the investigatory benefit and that persons identified through DNA-aided investigations often have extensive prior criminal histories.
Survivor testimony: Ashley Spence of the DNA Justice Project described how a felony arrest cheek swab in another state led to a CODIS match years after her assault and the subsequent conviction of a serial offender; she said Texas's expansion to all felony arrests led to more than 1,000 cold-case resolutions in its first year, according to figures she cited.
TBI policy director Patrick Powell said Tennessee currently collects DNA from felony convictions and certain violent felony arrests and that the bureau is supportive of closing gaps, including legislation the committee considered to standardize collection from incarcerated felons and to require post‑mortem collection from imprisoned offenders who die in custody if DNA had not been collected previously.
Action: The committee considered and approved Senate Bill 371, which, as explained by the sponsor, requires law enforcement and correctional facilities to standardize collection of DNA from felons in custody and permits submission of DNA from deceased offenders who were not previously submitted. The secretary recorded a unanimous roll call of nine ayes and the bill was placed on calendar for further Senate consideration.
Why it matters: Expanding DNA collection and ensuring consistent collection from incarcerated and deceased offenders increases the chance of matching crime-scene DNA to a known offender and can help close cases and identify serial offenders.
Ending: Committee members asked for additional comparative data; witnesses offered to provide national matrixes of state practices and the TBI said it would assist in drafting implementation details to address costs and lab capacity.
