Monday, December 24, 2012

Van Hollen Wants Millions to Collect DNA

No.

MADISON — The Wisconsin Justice Department wants to shift millions of dollars from schools, prisons, gang diversion programs and public defenders to pay for collecting DNA upon arrest and fund services for sexual assault victims.

The department asked Gov. Scott Walker to shift nearly $10 million in criminal surcharges to the department in his next two-year budget, which will be introduced early next year.

[...]

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen tells The Associated Press the surcharge revenue is meant to fund DOJ programs.

The AG is right in that the money is rightfully intended for law enforcement, but collecting DNA upon arrest is still a disghusting infringment of our privacy and rights. Van Hollen should be ashamed for supporting it.

(7) Comments
Posted by Owen at 1003 hrs
Law + Politics + Politics - Wisconsin

  1. It is the nature of Gummint folks (especially LEO types) to demand more and more Gummint intrusions. 

    Van Hollen can’t help himself.  Neither could GWB in his “Patriot” Act.

    Posted by dad29 on December 24, 2012 at 1131 hrs


  2. When are we going to elect a decent AG in this state?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 24, 2012 at 1137 hrs


  3. It’s hard to know what a decent AG looks like after the string of awful AG’s in this state.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 24, 2012 at 1252 hrs


  4. In a law enforcement sense, is this really any different than fingerprints or photos?  Sorry, but I think you’re overreacting.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 24, 2012 at 1526 hrs


  5. Yes. One’s DNA can be used to profile, determine medical eventualities, etc. It’s far more than just an indentity marker.

    Posted by Owen on December 24, 2012 at 1616 hrs


  6. It’s disgusting and an invasion of privacy.

    Upon arrest. NOT after a conviction but on arrest.

    It’s BS and we shouldn’t stand for this.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 24, 2012 at 2312 hrs


  7. Still not getting the fury over this.  The police already obtain all sorts of information about one upon arrest.  They take blood in certain situations (e.g. drunk driving).  What makes DNA your line in the sand?

    I’ll stipulate DNA can produce more information, but there’s no evidence law enforcement wants the information for anything other than identification.  Perhaps the law could define specific uses for a sample and mandate disposal once the data is memorialized?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on December 25, 2012 at 0855 hrs


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