Legislation introduced by Sen. Frank Farry (R-6) aimed at expanding the use of DNA evidence in Pennsylvania has moved forward after approval from the Senate Law and Justice Committee. The proposed measure, Senate Bill 912, seeks to allow for broader DNA collection during the arrest process, similar to fingerprinting procedures.
According to Sen. Farry, “Public safety depends on giving law enforcement every reasonable tool to identify repeat offenders and bring closure to victims and families. Senate Bill 912 is an important step toward protecting our communities and ensuring justice is served in a timely, fair and responsible way.”
The bill was developed with input from Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn and Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran. Their collaboration began after discussions with Ashley Spence, a victim advocate who shared her experience of delayed justice following a sexual assault. Spence’s case remained unsolved for years until California enacted legislation allowing DNA collection at arrest, which led to the identification of her attacker.
Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn commented, “I applaud Sen. Farry for his leadership in advancing Senate Bill 912 and I am honored to have worked with him on this legislation. When this legislation passes, it will provide an invaluable tool to law enforcement, allowing them to identify perpetrators of serious felonies much earlier in the process. Critically, it will also help focus investigations, ensuring we can swiftly clear individuals under suspicion who are not associated with the crime.” She emphasized that the outcome in Spence’s case demonstrates the goal of the bill: successful prosecution of violent crimes and justice for victims.
Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran added, “Senate Bill 912 is a critical, commonsense step forward for public safety in Pennsylvania. For too long, we’ve missed the opportunity to collect DNA at the time of arrest. Collecting this DNA – just like we would a fingerprint – will allow law enforcement to identify violent, repeat offenders and even exonerate the innocent. Our mission in law enforcement is to do the work today to prevent a victim tomorrow; this measure helps us do just that. I commend Sen. Farry for his leadership on this issue and urge the full Senate to pass this bipartisan legislation without delay.”
Supporters argue that expanding DNA collection at arrest for serious offenses could enhance criminal investigations while maintaining protections for civil liberties.
