DNA not always collected from prisons and mental facilities
Mar 22, 2016 15:59:26 GMT
albion, tmacchallenger, and 3 more like this
Post by fordprefect on Mar 22, 2016 15:59:26 GMT
This may have some relevance for those who wonder if EAR/ONS went to another state, raped and/or killed, and then was put in prison. I basically assumed that his DNA would have been put in the system. Not so.
Even if it doesn't apply to EAR/ONS, it certainly gives you pause when you think about all of the other cold cases out there.
This is an excerpt from Forensic Mag, published in 2015.
www.forensicmag.com/articles/2015/01/cold-hit-new-technology-reveals-old-evidence
Despite nearly universal laws requiring convicted sex offenders to provide a DNA sample, the rules for how and when those samples are collected could be a significant roadblock for cold case detectives around the country.
During the DOC inquiry, the author asked about whether or not DNA samples had been collected from all of the Sexually Violent Predators at the Special Commitment Center [in Washington State]. Although most of the offenders at the SCC already had a DNA sample collected by DOC prior to their release from DOC custody, there were 49 Sexually Violent Predators on the SCC roster who never had a DNA sample collected. Even more disturbing was the fact that nine of these offenders are now deceased and never had a DNA sample collected. The author also learned that the policy at the SCC for those who never had a DNA sample collected was to collect the sample upon release from the SCC, not at the time of entry. The logic behind this policy centered on the idea that once an offender was locked up, his ability to further offend was eliminated thus making his inclusion into the DNA database irrelevant. Such a policy only focuses on future offenses, but does not address the need to have DNA in CODIS for the invaluable purpose of solving old cases.
The inadequate DNA collection procedures at the SCC were reported to Burbank and she agreed to look into the problem. It took nearly two years and a lot of persistence, but now DNA samples have been collected from all residents at the SCC who are still there.
During this research period, the author also learned that there were sexual offenders housed at State Mental Hospitals who are required to provide a DNA sample, but no sample had ever been collected. As of this writing, all but one hospital resident has provided a DNA sample. The collection process for the state hospital is still underway.
The successful dividends of the project quickly became evident. In May, 2012, the Bellevue, Washington Police Department was notified of a DNA match in CODIS linking a civilly committed sexually violent predator named Michael Halgren to the unsolved 1980 rape-homicide of Susan Lowe. Michael Halgren has a long history of sexual violence against women and had been committed at the Special Commitment Center since 2000. Michael Halgren grew up a few blocks from Susan Lowe’s apartment and worked nearby. Halgren’s name never came up in the original investigation and it appears that he had no connection to Susan Lowe.
Michael Halgren was one of the 36 SVPs who provided a DNA sample as a result of this project. On January 9, 2013, he was arrested by Bellevue Police Detective Jerry Johnson at the SCC. Halgren was charged with one count of murder in the first degree by the King County Prosecutor’s Office. He pled guilty to murder in the second degree on June 26, 2014, and was sentenced to 14½ years to life in prison.
Solving just one case is a monumental achievement. But how many states collect DNA when prisoners are released rather than when they are sentenced to prison? How many other states have civilly committed sexual offenders who were convicted years or decades ago, before DNA was routinely collected? Do other states have sexual offenders with no DNA on file, housed in mental hospitals with no likelihood of ever being released?
Even if it doesn't apply to EAR/ONS, it certainly gives you pause when you think about all of the other cold cases out there.
This is an excerpt from Forensic Mag, published in 2015.
www.forensicmag.com/articles/2015/01/cold-hit-new-technology-reveals-old-evidence
Despite nearly universal laws requiring convicted sex offenders to provide a DNA sample, the rules for how and when those samples are collected could be a significant roadblock for cold case detectives around the country.
During the DOC inquiry, the author asked about whether or not DNA samples had been collected from all of the Sexually Violent Predators at the Special Commitment Center [in Washington State]. Although most of the offenders at the SCC already had a DNA sample collected by DOC prior to their release from DOC custody, there were 49 Sexually Violent Predators on the SCC roster who never had a DNA sample collected. Even more disturbing was the fact that nine of these offenders are now deceased and never had a DNA sample collected. The author also learned that the policy at the SCC for those who never had a DNA sample collected was to collect the sample upon release from the SCC, not at the time of entry. The logic behind this policy centered on the idea that once an offender was locked up, his ability to further offend was eliminated thus making his inclusion into the DNA database irrelevant. Such a policy only focuses on future offenses, but does not address the need to have DNA in CODIS for the invaluable purpose of solving old cases.
The inadequate DNA collection procedures at the SCC were reported to Burbank and she agreed to look into the problem. It took nearly two years and a lot of persistence, but now DNA samples have been collected from all residents at the SCC who are still there.
During this research period, the author also learned that there were sexual offenders housed at State Mental Hospitals who are required to provide a DNA sample, but no sample had ever been collected. As of this writing, all but one hospital resident has provided a DNA sample. The collection process for the state hospital is still underway.
The successful dividends of the project quickly became evident. In May, 2012, the Bellevue, Washington Police Department was notified of a DNA match in CODIS linking a civilly committed sexually violent predator named Michael Halgren to the unsolved 1980 rape-homicide of Susan Lowe. Michael Halgren has a long history of sexual violence against women and had been committed at the Special Commitment Center since 2000. Michael Halgren grew up a few blocks from Susan Lowe’s apartment and worked nearby. Halgren’s name never came up in the original investigation and it appears that he had no connection to Susan Lowe.
Michael Halgren was one of the 36 SVPs who provided a DNA sample as a result of this project. On January 9, 2013, he was arrested by Bellevue Police Detective Jerry Johnson at the SCC. Halgren was charged with one count of murder in the first degree by the King County Prosecutor’s Office. He pled guilty to murder in the second degree on June 26, 2014, and was sentenced to 14½ years to life in prison.
Solving just one case is a monumental achievement. But how many states collect DNA when prisoners are released rather than when they are sentenced to prison? How many other states have civilly committed sexual offenders who were convicted years or decades ago, before DNA was routinely collected? Do other states have sexual offenders with no DNA on file, housed in mental hospitals with no likelihood of ever being released?
