DNA proposals go too far

The Gazette Editorial Board

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The practice of collecting DNA evidence from convicted felons and sex offenders has been an important tool for law enforcement agencies, assisting them in cracking unsolved cases, including some here in The Corridor. It's also helped exonerate the falsely accused.

But we're skeptical of a bill passed by state senators last week that would expand mandated DNA collection to include people convicted of many lesser crimes.

The bill - which would authorize law enforcement agencies to take DNA samples from people convicted of aggravated misdemeanors such as assault, theft and repeated drunken driving - casts too wide a net.

The potential public safety benefits aren't enough to justify the additional expense and the projected state laboratory backlog this bill would create.

We also agree with civil rights supporters who worry it could represent a broad invasion of personal privacy. And it could be especially intrusive for juveniles.

If any change is to be made, we would support giving judges, at the request of prosectors, discretion in requiring DNA collection in certain plea-bargain cases, especially when convictions are for violent crimes.

Current law requires people convicted of felonies or sex offenses to provide a DNA sample, which is compared against unidentified DNA from local and national crime scenes.

Proponents say it has been a powerful tool helping them successfully prosecute other, previously unsolved crimes.

Last March, the Iowa House passed a bill that would have expanded state DNA sampling to include all aggravated misdemeanor convictions.

The Senate's current modified version makes exclusions for some offenses, such as gambling, hazardous waste and ag-related offenses, and also exempts juveniles and people receiving a deferred judgment.

If House members approve of those changes, the bill will go to Gov. Terry Branstad. We hope it doesn't go that far.

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