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Vermont House Approves DNA Database Bill

DNA strand
Pixabay

The Vermont House has approved legislation that expands the state DNA database by adding to the crimes that prompt collection of DNA samples from people convicted of crimes.
The House action is expected to clear the way for the bill to be sent to Governor Peter Shumlin for his signature.

It's a win for law enforcement in a years-long tug of war with civil libertarians who have tried to limit the types of crimes that trigger the taking and recording of a DNA samples.

The bill calls for those required to give a DNA sample to include anyone convicted of a misdemeanor carrying a sentence of 30 days or more.

It also includes defendant who have pleaded their cases down from a charge that brings a DNA test to a lesser charge that normally does not.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.