NCJ Number
241642
Date Published
September 1999
Length
156 pages
Annotation
This report on the proceedings of the seventh meeting of the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence contains the agenda, an update on Commission business, and reports and presentations related to the Commission's work groups.
Abstract
The update on Commission business focused on Commission publications on post-conviction recommendations regarding the management of newly acquired DNA evidence, as well as the dissemination of these recommendations. Commission business also pertained to the time table for completing the Commission's mandate. Next, a presentation by the program manager of the Federal Convicted Offender DNA Program outlined and commented on the FBI's arguments underlying its opposition to the destruction of convicted offender DNA samples after analysis. A presentation by a representative of the Police Executive Research Forum reported on a survey that solicited information on backlogs in testing DNA evidence in rape and sexual assault cases. A report by the Crime Scene Investigation Working Group presented an overview of the computer-based training of law enforcement personnel in procedures for protecting, detecting, collecting, and preserving DNA evidence from a crime scene. The report of the Post-conviction Issues Working Group focused on the development, potential provisions, and future work on a Uniform Statute for Obtaining Post-conviction DNA Testing. This was followed by a presentation on the first two Commission publications, one which recommends procedures for handling post-conviction DNA testing and a second which provides every law enforcement officer with information on how to identify, preserve, and collect DNA evidence. The presentation and discussion at the working lunch focused on the purpose of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors and that organization's position on the retention of convicted offenders' DNA samples. Reports were also provided on the Commission's Research & Development Working Group and the Legal Issues Working Group.