IOWA ATTORNEY GENERAL BRENNA BIRD IS CALLING ON THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS A LAW REQUIRING THE COLLECTION OF D-N-A FROM ADULTS ARRESTED FOR FELONIES OR AGGRAVATED MISDEMEANORS.
KATIE1 OC……….CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE.” :18
ALL 50 STATES REQUIRE D-N-A TESTING OF ADULTS CONVICTED OF FELONIES.
OVER 30 STATES HAVE ALSO PASSED D-N-A COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS FROM THOSE ARRESTED FOR VIOLENT CRIMES.
THEY’RE ALL NAMED “KATIE’S LAW,” FOR A 22-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO WAS BRUTALLY ATTACKED AND MURDERED IN NEW MEXICO.
SUZANA MARTINEZ, THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO, JOINED BIRD AT A STATEHOUSE NEWS CONFERENCE TUESDAY.
KATIE2 OC……D-N-A AS WELL.” :09
MARTINEZ WAS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO TRIED THE CASE AGAINST THE MAN WHO KILLED KATIE SEPICH, ONCE THE D-N-A HE SUBMITTED FOLLOWING A CONVICTION FOR A DIFFERENT CRIME MATCHED THE D-N-A MATERIAL FOUND UNDER KATIE SEPICH’S FINGERNAILS.
MARTINEZ SAYS BY REQUIRING D-N-A COLLECTION AT THE TIME OF AN ARREST, KATIE’S LAW TURNS EVERY BOOKING STATION INTO A DOORWAY TO JUSTICE FOR A COLD CASE.
KATIE3 OC…..OF THE SYSTEM.” :15
BIRD’S ALSO PROPOSING A BILL THAT WOULD LET CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SEX CRIMES GET A LIFETIME NO-CONTACT ORDER.
KATIE4 OC….EXTEND IT.” :20
UNDER CURRENT LAW, CRIMINAL NO-CONTACT ORDERS USUALLY LAST A YEAR.
BIRD ALSO WANTS TO CHANGE CONFIDENTIALITY RULES AND LET A CRIME VICTIM’S COUNSELOR NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THEY BELIEVE THERE’S AN IMMEDIATE RISK OF HARM TO THEIR CLIENT OR SOMEONE CONNECTED TO THEIR CLIENT.
MARY INGHAM IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES, WHICH SERVES CRIME VICTIMS IN 15 NORTH CENTRAL IOWA COUNTIES.
KATIE5 OC……..THE SAME COMMITMENT.” :10
BIRD’S ALSO SEEKING A TOUGHER FELONY CHARGE AGAINST SOME ACCUSED OF THREATENING AN IOWA JUDGE OR THEIR FAMILY.
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