Suffolk Authorities Back Cuomo On DNA Expansion
HAUPPAUGE, NY (CBSNewYork) - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo plans an expansion of the state's DNA databank and Suffolk County authorities are getting behind it.
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Suffolk County district attorney Thomas Spota said Friday that DNA has helped the county solve many crimes - including in the case where a taxi cab driver was severely beaten and robbed in Huntington.
"The defendant left a water bottle, and, from the water bottle, we were able to extract the DNA profile and he was convicted. 20 years, he's spending in jail," Spota said.
Spota and other authorities in Suffolk County support expanding collecting DNA samples from not only those convicted of felony crimes, but some misdemeanor crimes.
Spota says that if the law were already in place, it would have helped in identifying some of the victims of the Gilgo Beach serial killings, as prostitution is a misdemeanor.
"Some people are still unidentified. We know some of our victims clearly were prostitutes. Perhaps that would have been helpful for us to make these identifications," said Spota.
Right now, only 48 percent of offenders convicted of crimes have their DNA collected.
Where do you stand on the proposed expansion? Sound off in the comments section below!
