DNA Data Bank Oversight Panel
Minutes of the June 14, 2023 Meeting
The meeting convened at 9:33 a.m. Participating in the meeting were Lab; Cheryl Carreiro, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Sevasti Papakanakis; Daniel Renstrom, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Megan Olt, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Mandy Young – DESPP; Kate Ayers, DESPP-Legal Lab; Phillip Chappell; CSP-SONRA; Elizabeth Tugie, Department of Correction; Lisamaria Proscino, Office of the Attorney General; and Michael Gailor, Division of Criminal Justice.
The minutes of the March 15, 2023 meeting were unanimously approved.
The lab reported that as of June 1, 2023, a total of 133,705 convicted offender samples have been submitted to the lab; 747 since March 1, 2023. Of these samples, approximately 7463 were determined to be duplicate submissions. One hundred twenty six thousand five hundred forty are searching in CODIS. Approximately 320 convicted offender samples are waiting to be processed/entered into CODIS. There are approximately 21,550 profiles in the Forensic Index. The lab reported that 10,167 investigations have been aided so far by 10,623 confirmed hits. Approximately 235 candidate matches are under evaluation. The average time it takes to send out notification of the hit once it has been obtained is fifteen days.
The Judicial Department reported that from January through March 2023, it sent 287 initial and 166 warning letters to individuals whose sentences included a period of probation to remind them of their obligation to provide DNA samples. Judicial sent 48 initial and 23 warning letters to individuals who were not sentenced to a period of probation. Judicial collected 302 samples during that time period. Judicial requested the Department of Correction collect 9 samples and sent 12 requests for warrants to the State Police.
The Department of Correction provided a written report indicating that it has collected 342 samples since the last meeting of the Panel and 599 samples in the year to date.Currently, 63 inmates have refused to provide a sample in violation of the statutes. They have 58 inmates from which samples need to be taken.
The Sexual Offender Registration Unit of the DESPP reported that from October, 2022 through the end of February 2023, it registered 68 new sexual offenders, while the Deadly Weapon Offender Registration Unit has registered 123 new offenders. The Sexual Offender Registration Unit collected 24 samples while the Deadly Weapon Offender Registration Unit collected 6 samples.
There was no public comment.
The Committee went into executive session at 9:58 a.m. and came out of executive session at 9:59 a.m.
As a result of deliberations in executive session, the following actions were directed with respect to the noted DNA profiles: 6/14/23-A A – The sample is to be destroyed and all records and identifying information pertaining to the person from whom the sample was obtained shall be purged from the Data Bank.
The next Committee is scheduled for September 13, 2023.
The meeting concluded at 10:00 a.m.