Illinois DNA Database Still Lags by 20,000 Samples

By Prescott Carlson in News on Jun 14, 2010 9:15PM

While its certainly made progress from when the Illinois DNA database of convicted felons was over 50,000 samples behind last fall, the state still has 20,000 samples they need to collect through the Illinois Department of Corrections and county agencies. Former Gov. George Ryan -- who ironically is now part of the database himself -- signed a law in 2002 requiring all felons sentenced after August 22, 2002 to give a sample of their DNA to be entered in both the state and federal databases.

The Daily Herald reports that the database helped catch a man last April for a 2006 break-in and rape attempt, and quoted Illinois Attorney General deputy chief of staff Cara Smith saying, "There's plenty of cases where the break in the case is because of a DNA match. It's a reminder of how important this project is."

But Smith acknowledged that there are "lots of holes to plug" in efficient collecting of the DNA, as there is no specific agency to oversee the collection or monitor compliance at the local level -- an added piece of bureaucracy and expense not likely to come any time soon as the state seems to be struggling to even keep the electricity on in the Capitol building.

But that lack of oversight doesn't seem to be stopping DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett's desire to expand the program. Birkett told the Herald he would like to not only see convicted felons in the database, but also collect samples from anybody convicted down to crimes of Class A misdemeanors which includes crimes such as reckless driving, possession of between 10 to 30 grams of marijuana, and solicitation of a prostitute. Birkett also wants the samples collected as soon as suspects are arrested, with the DNA being destroyed if/when the person is acquitted.