Know them before they strike again. State Rep. Barbara Marumoto of Oahu wants to expand the collection of DNA by state law enforcement to include all class A and class B felons whose crimes are committed in Hawai’i. “Law enforcement
Know them before they strike again.
State Rep. Barbara Marumoto of Oahu wants to expand the collection of DNA by state law enforcement to include all class A and class B felons whose crimes are committed in Hawai’i.
“Law enforcement officials tell us that many serious crimes are committed by repeat offenders,” said Marumoto (R-17th District).
Marumoto pointed out that DNA evidence taken from convicted felons has helped authorities solve violent crimes in other jurisdictions.
Currently, Hawai’i law requires DNA to be collected only from criminals convicted of murder, attempted murder and certain sex offenses.
“It has the potential for helping,” said Kaua’i County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Soong. “I don’t know that we’ve necessarily got that many hits on it (DNA), though. I don’t get involved in the political process very much, although there have been times where we prosecutors, as a group statewide, have pushed on a couple of bills.”
Marumoto said other states “have shown that expanding the pool of DNA collection from registered convicts would give law enforcement help in fighting crime. That’s why I have offered a bill requiring collection of DNA from those who have been convicted of class A and/or B felonies,” including assault, armed robbery, and burglary.
“If these people commit other crimes against innocent victims and leave a DNA fingerprint, it will be easier to catch and convict them,” Marumoto said.
The legislator said Hawaii’s citizens have had enough.
“It’s not right that so many of these criminals are quickly released for lack of evidence, only to commit more crimes against anyone unlucky enough to get in their way,” she said. “Let’s use this new, high-tech method to reduce recidivism and keep criminals off the streets.”
Marumoto’s proposal, House Bill 1577, is one of seven bills concerning DNA that are wending their way through the Legislature. Most are similar to Marumoto’s, but HB 1577, would require police departments to retain evidence that could be used for DNA analysis until all appeals of the case have been exhausted and/or the defendant has completed his or her prison sentence.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
