Maryland DNA Collection Act Case Study

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Recommended: The effectiveness and limitations of DNA in criminal investigations

In Maryland law enforcement officers are authorizes to collect DNA samples when someone is arrested through the Maryland DNA Collection Act (MDCA) even if they are not convicted of the crime of they commit which include, violent crimes, burglary, or attempted burglary. In 2009, Alonzo Jay King, Jr. was arrested on first and second degree assault charges. While he was under arrest King’s DNA was collected and logged into the Maryland DNA database, before he was ever convicted. The database matched the sample of King’s DNA to a sample of DNA from an unsolved rape case. The sample was the only evidence that linked King to the rape case. King sought to suppress the evidence but the trial judge denied his motion. The DNA evidence was used to help convict him of first-degree rape and he was sentenced to life in prison. King then appealed his conviction, arguing that the Maryland DNA Collect Act was an unconstitutional …show more content…

The police need a secure and safe way to process to identify the people and possessions they will take into custody. The suspect’s criminal history is an important part of his identify that police officers should know when they are processing them for imprisonment. When an officer is taken a DNA sample of a suspect they are trying to find a connection between the suspect and the criminal records they have on file. When trying to identify a suspect it is necessary to search public and police records to obtain information provided by the arrested suspect to see what is already known about him. DNA uses a different form to identify but has the same function as a fingerprint or a name. Since the individual has been arrested on probable cause for a dangerous offense which will require detention before a trial can take place their expectation of privacy or freedom from the police scrutiny are reduced. Only touching the suspect’s mouth with a swab does not significantly invade their privacy or does not involve any

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