NY Governor Wants To Expand DNA Database

crimeandpunishment writes "If Governor David Paterson has his way, New York would take DNA samples from even the lowest level of criminal, doubling the state's DNA database. He says it would help to both solve crimes and clear people who were wrongly convicted. New York would become the first state in the country to do this. Currently DNA isn't collected in most misdemeanors. The plan is getting lots of support among law enforcement, but the New York Civil Liberties Union says there are questions about privacy."

Look around the governor's mansion

[PPH]

I'm sure Spitzer left quite a bit lying around.

Re:That's the right idea

[couchslug]

"Seriously he's blind..."

Priceless!

Re:NYC Governor?

[Anonymous Coward]

doink doink! Why is everybody so important and so busy they can't stop working for 5 minutes to tell the cops that they don't know anything about this week's murder victim?

Re:Why doesn't he balance the budget first?

[Anonymous Coward]

2013? We don't have a budget here in NY for THIS year. We're basically in a race with California to see who can shut down the gov't first.

Re:and...

[nacturation]

This is the reason we have the right to bare arms. My .45 will be empty before they get any samples off me.

Wouldn't you rather wear long sleeves? Having bare arms just makes it easier to take a DNA sample.

Re:False Positives

[PrecambrianRabbit]

Should I find myself in such a situation, do you think I can insist on my right to trial by a jury of my peers, where "my peers" are those who can understand basic probability and statistics?