DNA Data Bank Oversight Panel
Minutes of meeting of June 19, 2019
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) Forensic Science Laboratory
Meriden, Connecticut
The meeting convened at 9:35 a.m. Present at the meeting were Patricia Johannes, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Kristin Sasinouski, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Cheryl Carreiro, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Carll Ladd, DESPP-Forensic Lab; Elizabeth Tugie, Department of Correction (DOC); David Maiga, DOC; Michael Aiello, Judicial; Scott Caroon, DESPP Sexual Offender Registry Unit; Matthew Garcia, DESPP Sexual Offender Registry Unit; Darcy McGraw, Connecticut Innocence Project; Amy Bepko, Division of Criminal Justice; and Michael Gailor, Division of Criminal Justice.
The minutes of the meeting on March 13, 2019, were unanimously approved.
The lab reported that as of June 1, 2019, a total of 125,013 convicted offender samples have been submitted to the lab; 866 since March 1, 2019. Of these samples, 6977 were determined to be duplicate submissions. One hundred seventeen thousand four hundred forty-four have been profiled and reside in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Three hundred eighteen convicted offender samples are waiting to be processed/entered into CODIS.
There are 13,830 profiles in the Forensic Index. Two thousand seventy six incomplete cases are assigned to DNA and 343 are assigned to Forensic Biology.
The lab reported that 5,899 investigations have been aided so far by 5,927 confirmed hits. Approximately 109 candidate matches are under evaluation. The average time it takes to send out notification of the hit once it has been obtained is thirteen days.
The Judicial Branch reported that from January through March 2019 it sent 513 initial and warning letters to individuals to remind them of their obligation to provide DNA samples. They collected 342 samples. In 202 cases where probation was not imposed, Judicial sent letters to 125 individuals in an attempt to collect samples. Because some individuals had provided samples previously, judicial determined that only 75 needed to provide samples. Judicial sent 8 memoranda to the Department of Corrections advising them of the need to collect samples and sought 10 warrants for the failure of individuals to provide samples.
The Department of Correction reported that it has collected 807 samples from inmates in the year to date. Currently, 110 inmates have refused to provide a sample in violation of the statutes.
The Sexual Offender Registry Unit reported that the Unit has submitted 23 warrants for individuals who failed to provide samples and that they have a backlog of 30 warrants.
At 10:14 a.m. the Oversight Panel went into executive session until 10:22 a.m. As a result of the discussion in executive session, the panel agreed to further investigate the identity of a person who provided a sample.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:22 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for September 11, 2019.