DNA Data Bank Oversight Panel
Minutes of Meeting of June 8, 2010
Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory
294 Colony Street, Meriden
Present at the meeting were Assistant Attorney General Lynn Wittenbrink, Office of the Attorney General; Dr. Michael Bourke Department of Public Safety (DPS), Forensic Lab; Dr. Carll Ladd, DPS, Forensic Lab; Kenneth Zercie, DPS, Forensic Lab; Major William Podgorski, DPS, Division of Scientific Services; Dawn Hellier, DPS, Commissioner’s Office; Michael Aiello, Court Support Services Division (CSSD); Lynn Milling, Department of Correction (DOC); George Camp (DOC); Wanda White-Lewis (DOC); and Karen Goodrow. The Panel convened at 9:35 a.m.
Report of Department of Public Safety-Forensic Lab:
As of May 31, 2010, approximately 77,294 convicted offender samples have been submitted to the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. Of these samples, 76,289 have been profiled and are resident in CODIS. The lab reports a total of 1,437 confirmed hits as of May 31, 2010. 659 samples were received by the lab in May, 2010.
During the months of March, April and May over 10,250 profiles were generated and entered into CODIS. The lab reports that the convicted offender backlog has been eliminated.
The lab has filled the two federally funded Laboratory Assistant 2 positions as well as the two Forensic Science Examiner positions funded by the Project Innocence grant.
Report of Department of Correction
The DOC reports that on May 28, 2010, the DOC backlog collection team finished collecting 2,935 samples and had 422 refusals. Three of these refusals will be headed to court on June 9, 2010.
Public Comment
Karen Goodrow of the Innocence Protect reports that they had their first processed case involving a subject who was convicted of raping a 6-year-old girl. The case confirmed his guilt. There are several other cases pending review.
New Business
Reference was made to the passage of Public Act 10-102 which changes the penalty for refusal to submit to the taking of a blood or biological sample from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony and authorizes the Court Support Services Division to take samples from covered offenders who are not sentenced to a term of confinement.
The Office of the Attorney General reported that the McCoy v. Boyle case is still pending.
Report of Court Support Services Division
CSSD reports 177 samples taken in January, 225 samples taken in Feburary, 325 samples taken in March and 162 samples taken in April for a total of 889 samples for that period. Seventy-five (75)percent of the individuals sent scheduling notices for samples showed up. CSSD is currently taking samples at five locations in the state:
The next meeting of the Panel is scheduled for September 14, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.