Young Asking for Support on DNA Bill

To help convict criminals and exonerate innocent people, the Senate passed the DNA Databank Expansion Bill on Tuesday, which is the largest expansion of the database since its creation in 1994.

Since its inception, the DNA databank has been used successfully to identify perpetrators in about 10,000 crimes, including 900 murders and 3,500 sexual assaults. In 2006, the DNA databank was expanded to include 36 misdemeanors, which provides law enforcement agencies with the ability to convict 1,460 criminals.

The new legislation, which mirrors the databank expansion plan in Governor Cuomo’s proposed budget, requires people convicted of all felonies, as well as misdemeanors in penal law to submit DNA samples.

“Expansion of the DNA databank will provide law enforcement with a powerful tool to close thousands of unsolved cases, provide justice for victims, exonerate innocent people, and aid in the prevention of future crimes,” Senator Catharine Young said.

“It will help protect our families and local communities from dangerous criminals, including sexual predators like Altemio Sanchez, the notorious Western New York serial killer and rapist known as the Bike Path Rapist,” Senator Young said.

“In 1991, Sanchez was convicted of a misdemeanor offense. If this legislation had been in place at that time, law enforcement would have arrested him after the first victim. In 2007, the collection of DNA evidence through other means ultimately led to Sanchez’ conviction, but not before he brutalized more women and another man, falsely convicted of the crimes committed by Sanchez, served nearly 20 years in prison. The expansion of New York's DNA databank is critical to ensuring justice is served, and as important, injustice is prevented,” she added.

“Last year, I supported legislation that was approved with strong bi-partisan support in the Senate and was endorsed by district attorneys and crime victims’ advocates across the state. Now it’s time for the State Assembly to join with us in taking action so this measure becomes law and this state can help solve more crimes and keep dangerous criminals off the street. I strongly believe this legislation will overwhelming pass if the Speaker of the Assembly allows it to come to the floor,” Senator Young said.

Law enforcement organizations across the state, including the New York State Sheriffs Association, District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, the New York State Troopers PBA, Downstate Coalition for Crime Victims, Joyful Heart Foundation, the Safe Horizon victim assistance organization and many other law enforcement groups throughout the state also support the DNA databank expansion bill (S.5560A).

To help garner support for expansion of the DNA database, Senator Young is encouraging residents throughout the district to sign her online petition at http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/catharine-young. Your voice can also be heard by calling the Senator toll-free at 1-800-707-0058.

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