Posted by New Jersey Senate Democrats on December 08, 2005 at 18:15:44:
FOR RELEASE: Immediate
December 7, 2005
CONTACT: Jim Griffin
Tel: (609) 292-5215
DNA FINGERPRINTED PROGRAM EARNS NATIONAL RECOGNITION
TRENTON - New Jersey's DNA Convicted Sampling and Testing Program, a program
started by legislation sponsored by Senator Nicholas Sacco and Assemblywoman
Joan Quigley, was selected as one of eight winners of the Council of State
Governments' 2005 Innovation Awards.
"DNA sampling is truly proving to be the 21st century's answer to
fingerprinting. It allows law enforcement officials to more effectively
identify suspects and convict criminals while acquitting the innocent," said
Senator Sacco, D-Bergen and Hudson. "Without this technology, there would be
many cases that would go unsolved and many criminals who would go
unpunished."
The program allows law enforcement organizations to take a biological sample
for DNA testing and cataloguing purposes from all individuals convicted of a
crime that is not a disorderly person's offense under New Jersey's criminal
code. The DNA samples will be compared to the statewide DNA database of DNA
collected at unsolved crimes.
Senator Sacco was the prime Senate sponsor of the "DNA Database and Databank
Act of 1994," the original legislation to establish a DNA database in New
Jersey as well as a 2003 amendment to the Act that expanded the crimes for
which a DNA sample could be taken. Assemblywoman Quigley sponsored the
legislation in the Assembly.
"DNA analysis has emerged as an extremely valuable tool for the American
criminal justice system," said Assemblywoman Quigley, D-Hudson. "DNA's
capacity to shine light on the truth provides the opportunity to use it for
enhancing the efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and credibility of our
criminal justice system."
The program has more than 85,000 DNA samples on record and has instituted
gathering and cataloguing methods that have reduced the laboratory
turnaround time from 210 days to 30 days.
"It is a great honor and wonderful surprise to be selected for this award,"
said Senator Sacco. "All the organizations involved - the Attorney General's
Office and State and local police departments - should be commended for
creating a DNA sampling system that should serve as a national model."
As part of receiving the Innovation Award, the program was featured in the
November/December 2005 issue of State News, the Council of State
Government's magazine. The program was also recognized during a special
awards luncheon on December 3 at the Council's Annual State Trends and
Leadership Forum in Wilmington, Delaware.
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