GREENVILLE, N.C.- Governor Perdue came to the East today to sign a highly-debated bill into law. Perdue signed "The DNA Database Act of 2010” at the Greenville Police Department.
She calls DNA testing the 21st-century fingerprint and she believes it will help prevent violent crime across our state.
"In many, many cases DNA becomes the difference maker,” said Governor Bev Perdue.
Starting in February, police across North Carolina will take DNA samples from anyone charged with murder, rape, or other violent felony crimes.
The General Assembly passed the bill Saturday. Officers say it will prevent crime and solve cold cases.
"It also helps us exonerate the innocent because it is so precise,” said Roy Cooper, North Carolina Attorney General.
Perdue says DNA samples will keep repeat offenders off the streets, preventing crimes like the murder of her dear friend Kathy Taft.
"This became personal to me especially because one of my 30-year best friends was murdered during the spring,” said Perdue. “We chose to do this bill signing here in Greenville because I was always a supporter of DNA.”
DNA testing was used to bring Taft's murderer to justice this spring.
State law enforcement has solved nearly 1,400 crimes using the existing DNA database. Now with earlier testing, they're looking to solve even more.
Perdue has a message for lawmakers who still call DNA testing unreasonable search and seizure.
"We have 21st century science and technology that allows us to catch really bad people faster and it is really unreasonable for the elected leaders and all of us to not move forward to make our streets as safe as we can,” she said.
Attorney General Roy Cooper says the law has privacy safe guards. It's a felony to misuse DNA and law officers will delete DNA records from the state's database if the person is acquitted or their charges are dismissed.
Law enforcement from the local level to the SBI will now of course have new responsibilities and they'll undergo training on how to use the swabbing kits for collecting DNA.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement