{"id":35733,"date":"2016-02-27T10:10:14","date_gmt":"2016-02-27T10:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=35733"},"modified":"2016-02-27T21:27:02","modified_gmt":"2016-02-27T21:27:02","slug":"bill-mandating-dna-test-after-arrest-heads-to-mapp-after-full-senate-approval","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=35733","title":{"rendered":"Bill Mandating DNA Test After Arrest Heads To Mapp"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Receiving lauds from the full Senate, a bill mandating that DNA tests be conducted on persons charged for felony, misdemeanor sexual assault and violent crimes \u00a0— even if they have not been convicted of said crimes — will become the territory’s new standard if signed into law by Governor Kenneth Mapp.<\/p>\n

The measure was supported by all senators present (only Marvin Blyden, who is out of the territory, was absent) at Friday’s Committee of the Whole session at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative hall.<\/p>\n

Mr. Francis has said DNA testing would lead to faster convictions while providing law enforcement officers with the tools needed to effectively do their jobs. A former police commissioner and police chief, he said the measure is consistent with national initiatives.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy collecting DNA from arrestees, law enforcement can identify criminals early and create more efficient investigation practices,\u201d Mr. Francis during a Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety hearing on Wednesday. \u201cWith DNA match, law enforcement can quickly narrow on the right suspects, saving untold man hours and manpower.\u201d The senator, a first-term Democrat, argued that manpower saved because of DNA testing could be used elsewhere.<\/p>\n

\"Sen.<\/a>

Sen. Francis is pictured with Dave and Jayann Sepich, advocates for DNA Arrestee Testing, at the 2015 NCSL Legislative Summit.<\/p><\/div>\n

And he said DNA testing could also bring resolution to cases in the territory that have gone cold, which would \u201csubsequently bring closure to victims and their families.\u201d Mr. Francis sought to remind his colleagues that there were 54 rape and sexual assault cases in the territory in 2014; and 51 such cases in 2015.<\/p>\n

\u201cRape has a lasting effect on victims and creates serious family issues,\u201d Mr. Francis reminded, as he solicited the support of senators, all of whom, not withstanding a few concerns, supported the measure.<\/p>\n

The bill cites recent precedent when in 2003 a New Mexico State University graduate, Katie Sepich, was brutally raped and strangled<\/a><\/span>. Ms. Sepich\u2019s body was later discovered burned and abandoned at a dumpsite\u00a0on the outskirts of Las Cruces, New Mexico.<\/p>\n

Ms. Sepich\u2019s killer was captured three years later only after a DNA match \u2014 her\u00a0attacker\u2019s skin and blood were found under her fingernails \u2014 identified\u00a0Gabriel Adrian Avila, who had been arrested in November 2003 for aggravated burglary and was serving time in the New Mexico Corrections System since November 2004, as the perpetrator of the heinous crime.<\/p>\n

The measure contends that had there been a law in place that allowed for DNA testing \u201cfor all persons arrested on felony charges,\u201d Ms. Sepich\u2019s killer would have been brought to justice immediately. And it references \u201cKatie\u2019s Law\u201d, which was passed in 2006 by New Mexico\u2019s Legislature and swiftly signed into law by the state\u2019s governor. The bill also points to Congress\u2019 decision in 2013 to make available grants to states and territories for\u00a0meeting startup funding costs associated with arrestee DNA programs through Katie\u2019s Act \u2014 which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on January 10, 2013.<\/p>\n

DNA testing after arrest was given the ultimate stamp of approval when the Supreme Court of the United States upheld Katie\u2019s Law by\u00a0denying a challenge that said laws to require DNA upon arrest were a violation of Fourth Amendment rights.<\/p>\n

Mr. Francis met the Sepich family last year while attending the Legislative Summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures. \u201cDNA evidence was critical in bringing the Sepich family closure,\u201d he stated. \u201cVirgin Islands victims and their families similarly deserve access to resources that can bring them closure and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ST. THOMAS — Receiving lauds from the full Senate, a bill mandating that DNA tests be conducted on persons charged for felony, misdemeanor sexual assault and violent crimes \u00a0— even if they have not been convicted of said crimes — will become the territory’s new standard if signed into law by Governor Kenneth Mapp. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[228,11,191,2474,147],"tags":[4609,1648,121],"yoast_head":"\nBill Mandating DNA Test After Arrest Heads To Mapp - V.I. 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I've been the Editor-In-Chief at my videogames website, Gamesthirst, for over 5 years, writing over 7,000 articles and more than 2 million words. I'm also very passionate about where I live, the United States Virgin Islands, and I'm intent on making it a better place by being resourceful and keeping our leaders honest. VI Consortium was birthed out of said desire, hopefully my efforts bear fruit. Reach me at ernice@viconsortium.com.\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/ernicegilbert.com\/\"],\"url\":\"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Bill Mandating DNA Test After Arrest Heads To Mapp - V.I. 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