Alaska Senate measure allows Use of Force in DNA collection of Prisoners

The state Senate on Friday passed a bill allowing the use of force to collect DNA samples from prisoners. It also protects officers, municipalities and the state from being sued for taking the samples. The House and Senate passed House Bill 124 unanimously, but a civil liberties group has concerns about the protections the measure provides the state at the cost of the rights of prisoners. The House must approve changes made by the Senate before the measure is sent to Gov. Frank Murkowski to sign into law. DNA evidence is commonly used as a tool by police to investigate crimes, and this measure helps create a better system to collect DNA, said Senate Judiciary Chairman Ralph Seekins, R-Fairbanks. "For some convicted felons that are already in the system, there is no incentive for them to provide DNA evidence," Seekins said on the Senate floor Friday. "Anything added to their sentence for noncompliance would still be less than their sentence would be if convicted for other crimes through their DNA." The measure passed the Senate 19-0, having broad support on both sides of the aisle despite earlier concerns by some lawmakers on the definition of "reasonable force." The bill passed the House on March 7 with a 37-0 vote. Senate Minority Leader Johnny Ellis, D-Anchorage, said he would have had a problem with the bill if it authorized force against suspects. But since DNA can only be forcibly taken from convicted criminals under the measure, he said he was satisfied. [more]