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Courier-Journal Urges Kentucky to Expand DNA Access Law
Posted: May 17, 2012 5:00 pm
More than two decades after DNA evidence began to exonerate the wrongfully convicted, every state, with the exception of Oklahoma, has instituted a post-conviction DNA testing access law for prisoners with claims of innocence. Unfortunately, many of the laws are limited in scope and substance. On the heels of Wednesday’s Kentucky Supreme Court hearing where two prisoners sought DNA testing on evidence from a 1992 murder, the Courier-Journal published an editorial urging the state to expand the existing DNA access law, which currently provides access to death row prisoners only.
State legislators introduced a bill this session that would have expanded post-conviction DNA testing beyond its current limits but died in the House budget committee with prosecutors citing costs and the burden of an increased workload.
The Supreme Court could well decide the issue in Kentucky. But if not, lawmakers need to act next year to bring Kentucky into the current century when it comes to forensic science.
Read the full editorial.
Read more about the case before the Kentucky Supreme Court.
Read more about how access to post-conviction DNA testing has helped free the innocent nationwide.
Tags: Kentucky