DNA Data Bank Oversight Panel

Minutes of meeting of June 10, 2020 meeting

The meeting convened at 9:36 a.m.  Participating in the meeting were Patricia Johannes, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Kristin Sasinouski, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Carll Ladd, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Megan Olt, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Jason Gaudet, Department of Correction; Matthew Garcia, SONRA; Michael Aiello, Judicial; Robert Dearington, Office of the Attorney General; Colin Milne, DESPP- Legal; John Doyle, Division of Criminal Justice, Michael Gailor, DCJ.

The minutes of the meeting on March 11, 2020, were unanimously approved. 

The lab reported that as of June 1, 2020, a total of 127,824 convicted offender samples have been submitted to the lab; 400 since March 1, 2020.  Of these samples, 7125 were determined to be duplicate submissions. One hundred twenty thousand four hundred two have been profiled and reside in CODIS.  Approximately 64 convicted offender samples are waiting to be processed/entered into CODIS. 

There are 16,029 profiles in the Forensic Index.  Five hundred fifty-two incomplete cases are assigned to DNA and 24 are assigned to Forensic Biology. 

The lab reported that 6898 investigations have been aided so far by 7014 confirmed hits.  Approximately 80 candidate matches are under evaluation.  The average time it takes to send out notification of the hit once it has been obtained is sixteen days. 

The Judicial Department reported that from January through March 2020 it sent 430 initial and warning letters to individuals whose sentences included a period of probation to remind them of their obligation to provide DNA samples.  In 156 cases where probation was not imposed, Judicial sent letters to 94 individuals in an attempt to collect samples.  Judicial sent 6 memoranda to the Department of Corrections advising them of the need to collect samples. 

The Department of Correction reported that it has collected 406 samples from inmates in the year to date.  Currently, 105 inmates have refused to provide a sample in violation of the statutes.  They have 55 inmates from which samples need to be taken. 

The Sexual Offender Registration Unit of the DESPP reported that because of the pandemic they stopped taking samples in March but that they will begin taking samples again in June.  They are in the process of obtaining 3 warrants for the arrest of individuals who failed to provide samples. 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 a.m.