Oklahoma
State Senate
Communications Division
State Capitol
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-5774
For Immediate Release: May 20, 2009
Sen. Jonathan Nichols
Gov. Signs Julie’s Law
State Sen. Jonathan
Nichols said cold cases involving some of the worst crimes
in Oklahoma will now have a better chance of being solved. Nichols
praised Gov. Brad Henry for signing Senate Bill 1102, also known
as “Julie’s Law” on Wednesday. The legislation,
written by Nichols, R-Norman, would add new misdemeanor crimes
to those that can result in the harvesting of DNA. The DNA would
only be collected upon conviction of those crimes.
“This is named for Julie Buskin, a beautiful OU student
who was murdered in 1996. Her case was unsolved for years, until
we expanded the DNA database. That legislation brought her killer
to justice,” said Nichols, who authored that expansion legislation.
Crimes being added to those that can result in DNA collection
include the misdemeanor offenses of assault and battery, domestic
abuse, stalking, possession of a controlled dangerous substance,
outraging public decency, resisting arrest and peeping tom. The
law also requires the collection of DNA from illegal aliens who
are arrested in Oklahoma and then are to be deported.
“Jessica Brown, the spokesperson for the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation, has called this law a much-needed tool
for law enforcement. As a former prosecutor, I know that DNA evidence
can help us get some of our most violent criminals off the streets
and prevent them from victimizing others,” Nichols said.
For more information contact:
Sen. Nichols - (405) 521-5535
