Report Title:

Requesting the Attorney General to conduct DNA collection study.

WHEREAS, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evidence taken from convicted felons is a valuable tool in solving crimes committed by repeat offenders; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement officials across the nation report that most serious crimes are committed by repeat offenders; and

WHEREAS, currently, Hawaii law requires DNA to be collected only from criminals convicted of murder, attempted murder, and certain of the most heinous sex offenses, but not from all convicted felons; and

WHEREAS, the people of Hawaii would feel safer in the knowledge that more repeat offenders could be apprehended by expanding the DNA database to include all felons; and

WHEREAS, DNA evidence can help "rule out" innocent defendants from a felony conviction; and

WHEREAS, eleven states have demonstrated that expanding the pool of DNA-registered convicts to include all felons increases the chances of a successful conviction, and 22 other states are considering expanding their DNA databases; and

WHEREAS, in Hawaii, DNA is currently collected by drawing blood from the subject; and

WHEREAS, other states report a significant cost savings when DNA is collected via mouth swab, rather than by blood draw; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2001, the Senate concurring, that the Department of the Attorney General thoroughly investigate the fiscal and legal costs and benefits of collecting DNA from all convicted felons, including the cost of additional storage space and personnel, and the possible savings derived from reducing repeat offenses; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of the Attorney General determine the difference in DNA collection costs between drawing blood and swabbing the mouth of the subject; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of the Attorney General report its findings to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior the commencing of the Regular Session of 2002; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Attorney General.