Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate Release: February 18, 2009
Senator Jonathan Nichols
Sen. Nichols Wins Passage of Bill to Expand DNA Database
Expanding the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s
(OSBI) DNA database could help solve some of the most horrific
crimes committed—that’s according to State Sen.
Jonathan Nichols, author of Senate Bill 1102. The measure
would add a number of misdemeanor crimes to the felony crimes
already on the books which can result in the harvesting of DNA
samples. The measure was approved by the full Senate Appropriations
Committee on Wednesday.
“We’re talking about people who have been charged
and convicted of misdemeanor criminal acts like peeping toms,”
said Nichols, R-Norman. “We know for a fact that cold cases
are often solved through DNA, and the perpetrator’s DNA
may be in the system because of an entirely unrelated crime.”
Nichols, a former prosecutor, reminded the committee that was
exactly how the 1996 murder of University of Oklahoma ballet student
Julie Buskin was ultimately solved.
“This gives us an even greater opportunity to capture and
punish individuals responsible for some of the most heinous crimes
imaginable.”
Nichols stressed that unlike other proposed legislation requiring
DNA collection upon arrest, under SB 1102, only those convicted
would be required to submit a DNA sample. His measure would include
those convicted of misdemeanor crimes such as outraging public
decency; resisting arrest; escape or attempting to escape; eluding
a police officer; peeping tom; pointing a firearm; unlawfully
carrying or discharging of a weapon; illegal transporting; negligent
homicide; causing a personal accident while driving under the
influence; unlawful discharge of a weapon; destruction of property
or threatening an act of violence.
“Those convicted of such crimes will have already submitted
to fingerprinting, this simply adds the collection of a DNA sample,”
Nichols said. “This in no way intrudes on the lives of law-abiding
citizens, and it will help us do a better job of protecting innocent
Oklahomans.”
For more information contact:
Sen. Nichols' Office: 405-521-5535
