New York - It's not just graffiti artists in New York who have something to worry about when it comes to criminal prosecutions. Now it's the average citizen.
On January fourth Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed
expanding the state's DNA database, which was created in 1996. Wanting it to include anyone convicted of any crime under the state's Penal Law no matter how big or small, will provide police officials with the widest
DNA database in the country.
Supporters hailed the measure, stating
it would help to go after criminals as well as let innocent people
out of jail. Critics however claim those who support it are blinded
by “the CSI Effect”, the named after television show that
portrays DNA technology as infallible.
Legislative director for the New York Civil Liberties Union Robert
Perry said this is like being “under surveillance 24/7. If your
DNA ends up matching DNA at a crime scene, you now become subject to
criminal suspicion, but there are plenty of innocent reasons for DNA
to turn up at a crime scene."
Perry said
DNA evidence is given great weight by police investigators and
prosecutors, meaning they may often overlook traditional police work
that points to a different suspect.
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