Question of the Month - April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
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October 2002

Question:
For what crimes do Southern states require offenders/suspects to submit DNA samples for the purpose of criminal DNA databasing?  Which state laws were retroactive, requiring DNA samples from those who were either incarcerated or on probation or parole, for applicable offenses, on or before the date on which the law the took effect?  

SLC State Offender Database Laws: Qualifying Offenses January 2003

State

All
Felonies

All Violent Crimes

Sex
Crimes

Burglary

Some Drug Crimes

Some
Misdemeanors

Arrestees/
Suspects

Juveniles 

Law Retroactive to Prisoners

Retroactive to Probation and Parole

Alabama 

x

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

x

x

Arkansas 

 

x

x

x

 

x

 

x

x

 

Florida 

x

x

x

x

x

 

 

x

x

x

Georgia 

x

x

x

x

x

 

 

 

x

 

Kentucky 

 

many

x

x

 

 

 

x

x

 

Louisiana 

 

many

x

 

 

 

x

x

x

 

Maryland 

x

x

x

x

x

x

 

No Response

x

 

Mississippi 

 

 

x

 

 

 

 

 

x

 

Missouri 

 

many

x

 

 

 

 

 

x

x

North
Carolina

 

x

x

 

 

 

 

 

x

 

Oklahoma 

 

x

x

x

 

 

 

x

x

 

South
Carolina

 

x

x

x

x

 

 

x

x

x

Tennessee 

x

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

 

 

Texas 

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

x

x

 

Virginia 

x

x

x

x

x

 

x

x

x

x

West Virginia

 

x

x

x

x

x

 

 

x

 

Total SLC

7

12

16

12

9

5

3

10

15

5

Total
Nationwide

23

45

50

39

27

22

4

30

31

17

Source: Respective SLC state statutes.  Source for total nationwide figures: Smith Alling Lane, State DNA Database Laws Qualifying Offenses, June 2002.    

Notes: Florida’s all-felons law will be effective 07/01/05, dependent on legislative appropriations.   Kentucky’s offender DNA requirements, outside sex and family offenses for which they are mandatory, are dependent on available funding.  Mississippi passed legislation in its 2003 session to require DNA from all convicted felons, but only if funding is made available.  Texas’ all-felons, arrestee and drug crime requirements are dependent on available funding.  Virginia’s arrestee requirements become effective 07/01/03.  “No Response,” indicates state officials did not respond to the survey.   “Many” indicates that the state specifically lists select violent offenses for which to require DNA; while those crimes may be many, they are not all violent crimes as defined in other states’ statutes.