Md. Police Halt Some DNA Collections After Ruling
PIKESVILLE, Md. (AP) -- Maryland State Police are halting the collection of DNA samples from people charged with certain violent offenses after a ruling by the state's highest court earlier this week.
State police employees were directed Friday to stop collecting and analyzing the DNA of anyone charged with qualifying violent crimes, burglary or attempts to commit those crimes. The collections will also stop in local jurisdictions, including Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford and Howard counties.
The Court of Appeals overturned Alonzo Jay King Jr.'s rape conviction and life sentence, ruling that his right against unreasonable searches was violated by DNA collection after his 2009 arrest.
State police say the ruling does not affect Maryland's convicted offender DNA database law and DNA will still be collected from those convicted of qualifying crimes.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
