File #: Res 1660-2000    Version: * Name: DNA, Effect on the administration of the death penalty.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services
On agenda: 12/19/2000
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York to conduct a hearing on the expanding role of DNA evidence in law enforcement and its effect on the administration of the death penalty.
Sponsors: Lawrence A. Warden, Margarita Lopez, Una Clarke, June M. Eisland, Wendell Foster, Sheldon S. Leffler, Annette M. Robinson, Angel Rodriguez
Council Member Sponsors: 8
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2001*Lawrence A. Warden City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/22/2001*Lawrence A. Warden Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/22/2001*Lawrence A. Warden Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/19/2000*Lawrence A. Warden City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
12/19/2000*Lawrence A. Warden City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
Res. 1660 Title Resolution calling upon the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York to conduct a hearing on the expanding role of DNA evidence in law enforcement and its effect on the administration of the death penalty. Body By Council Members Warden and Lopez; also Council Members Clarke, Eisland, Foster, Leffler, Robinson and Rodriguez Whereas, Deoxyribonucleic acid ("DNA") is a molecule that is present in every cell of the body that contains a nucleus and is the chemical dispatcher of genetic information; and Whereas, Each individual has a unique DNA pattern, and moreover, a person's DNA is specific to that person regardless of the biological sample from which it is taken, such as blood, hair and flesh; and Whereas, By breaking open the nucleus of cells collected at a crime scene, lab technicians are able to extract DNA and amplify it; and Whereas, DNA technology has revolutionized the use of forensics in law enforcement, since advancements in DNA research now allow lab technicians to identify precise genetic markers from bits of biological evidence typically left at a crime scene, including saliva, hair follicles, semen, blood and sweat; and Whereas, Many law enforcement officials believe that DNA has become one of the most important crime solving tools since the development of fingerprinting nearly a century ago; and Whereas, DNA evidence is playing an ever expanding role in law enforcement, as evidenced by the state-wide DNA Identification Index, established pursuant to the New York State Executive Law, which is a compilation of DNA samples from individuals convicted and sentenced for certain crimes and is available for comparison with DNA evidence recovered at crime scenes; and Whereas, Increased utilization of DNA research may have a profound effect on the implementation of the death penalty; and Whereas, One of the goals of the Innocence Protection Act, a bipartisan bill recently introduced in Congress, is to promote the use of DNA evidence; and Whereas, Many officials have endorsed the retroactive testing of DNA evidence, where applicable, in death row convictions; and Whereas, Through the increased testing of DNA evidence, states can increase the certainty of capital crimes convictions; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the appropriate Committee of the Council of the City of New York conduct a hearing on the expanding role of DNA evidence in law enforcement and its effect on the administration of the death penalty. LS# 3748 12/12/00