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Associated Press - December 27, 2009 10:04 AM ET
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - Secrets from the grave might help close some unsolved Iowa criminal cases, but collecting DNA samples from homicide victims likely would raise civil liberties concerns.
Rep. Kurt Swaim of Bloomfield, chairman of the Iowa House Judiciary Committee, has expressed interest in following the lead of states expanding databases in hopes of closing criminal cases.
Iowa DNA sampling is limited to convicted felons and some misdemeanor sex offenders. Illinois and Louisiana collect DNA samples from crime victims, including homicide victims, in an attempt to link them to open cases. Research shows crime victims often have committed crimes themselves.
ACLU of Iowa Legal Director Randall Wilson says his group is leery of collecting genetic samples from crime victims dead or alive because of privacy concerns.
Information from: The Gazette, http://www.gazetteonline.com/
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