Pennsylvania Faces Criticism for Expanding Bill to Collect DNA upon Arrest |
Senate Bill 775, introduced by State Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-9th Dist.), to collect DNA from suspects at the time of their arrests in Pennsylvania is running into resistance from critics. These critics warn that the state's forensic lab is already inundated and struggles to meet current demand and a flood of additional samples would only worsen the backlog. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania (ACLU) also opposes collecting DNA from people who have been arrested but not convicted of crimes. They have taken the position that the legislation could violate the Fourth Amendment's guarantee from unreasonable searches and seizures.