Hollister
– Despite a slow start, San Benito County’s state-mandated DNA
collection program has become a smooth-running routine that has the
potential to aid in catching criminals and solving crimes,
according to local law enforcement officials.
Hollister – Despite a slow start, San Benito County’s state-mandated DNA collection program has become a smooth-running routine that has the potential to aid in catching criminals and solving crimes, according to local law enforcement officials.
Collection of DNA samples from convicted felons began statewide last year after voters passed Proposition 69 in 2004. The law was designed to aid law enforcement in tracking serious criminals and solving serious crimes. Over the past year, officers at the San Benito County Jail have collected 251 DNA samples, according to Jail Cmdr. Edward Escamillia. Jail personnel swab the DNA-rich cells from an inmate’s cheek and then send the sample to a state-run lab in Watsonville, he said.
“It’s an additional tool, like fingerprints. It’s another arrow in our quiver,” Sheriff Curtis Hill said. “This is the new wave.”
Initial collection efforts were set back in August when local probation officers had to put in overtime researching the criminal histories of more than 1,000 local probationers to see if they were convicted felons required to participate in the collection program. After a lot of long hours, however, such backlogs were eliminated, said Chief Probation Officer Deborah Botts.
“It’s a lot smoother now,” Escamilla said.
Although San Benito County has submitted hundreds of samples to the state’s DNA database, none of them has led to an arrest or helped solve an old crime, according to Hill. He did add, however, that eventually DNA collection will aid local law enforcement efforts.
“It could happen any day now. They’re getting hundreds of hits statewide, so it’s only a matter of time before we get a hit here,” he said. “The whole system is only going to get bigger and better.”
While local law enforcement have the DNA collection under control for now, things will get a good deal busier in coming years. In 2009, state law will require that DNA samples be collected from all adults arrested for a felony crime, according to Escamillia.
“That’s when it’s going to get tough again,” he said, adding that he believes the jail’s collection efforts thus far will help ease the transition in 2009.
District Attorney John Sarsfield said between 800 and 900 adults are charged with felony crimes each year and “many more” are arrested on felony charges.
Escamillia said patience, rather than force, is used to collect samples from recalcitrant felons.
“If they refuse, they’re violating a court order and we can hold them until they submit,” he said. “So it hasn’t been a problem.”
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
