Posted: | February 14, 2013 12:13 PM |
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From: | Representative Robert F. Matzie |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Crime Labs and DNA evidence |
In the near future, I intend to re-introduce legislation amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which would provide for the preservation of biological evidence collected in connection with criminal investigations and processed in crime labs. It is vitally important that our judiciary system process, secure, maintain and track evidence related to the indictment or conviction of a resident of the Commonwealth to ensure transparency and accountability. As such, my legislation would require the preservation of biological evidence, including DNA profiles, for the period of time an inmate remains under State jurisdiction. In addition, my legislation institutes standards and prohibitions relating to the maintenance and destruction of this evidence, and creates a centralized tracking system, which would allow for evidence connected to either open cases or post-conviction DNA to be located expeditiously. |
Introduced as HB1007