Expanding Oklahoma's criminal DNA database

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The state's criminal DNA database would expand under a bill approved in the Oklahoma House.<br/><br/>Oklahoma City state Representative Fred Morgan's legislation would require

Thursday, March 17th 2005, 6:04 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The state's criminal DNA database would expand under a bill approved in the Oklahoma House.

Oklahoma City state Representative Fred Morgan's legislation would require convicted felons to submit a DNA sample to the state's database of offenders. Morgan said Wednesday that the number of samples could quadruple and allow the state to solve a lot of cold cases.

Officials believe taking DNA samples from every convicted felon could identify many people who have been convicted for only a handful of the crimes they have committed.

The Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center reported that in 2003, there were 5,168 felons convicted of major crimes who would have been required to submit DNA samples under the bill.

Implementing the program will cost an additional $2.3-million.

House Bill 1219, passed 101-to-0 and was sent to the state Senate for action.