Editorial: Crime victims show why DNA testing of prisoners matters … – Omaha World-Herald

Victims of unsolved crimes have a better shot at justice today because Nebraskas prison system has begun more vigorously enforcing a state DNA collection law.

Nebraska law requires state prisons to collect DNA samples from felony inmates. But World-Herald reporting found nearly 80 inmates that prison officials had let say no to testing.

The states first wave of more assertive DNA collection has already helped investigators identify a suspect in four Omaha rapes in 2002 and 2004, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said last week.

We pushed very hard for these collections and for good reason, Kleine told The World-Heralds Todd Cooper. It shows the power of DNA, the power of the law.

It shouldnt have taken so long, one of the women attacked, Nicky Patten, told The World-Herald. Theyve been sitting on this the whole time because he checked a no box? Years and years of victims not knowing and not getting closure, all beause of silly little loopholes like this.

She is right to criticize the prisons previous policy of letting inmates decline tests, despite the state law, sentencing orders and a Supreme Court ruling that required gathering inmate DNA.

Inmates who refuse to allow the DNA tests now face a possible loss of prison privileges and good time. If they continue to resist, Corrections will seek a court order to collect the sample by force.

The new approach is working. Prison officials said 13 inmates were still refusing DNA collection last week, down from 78 in late April.

Prison officials say Lincoln Correctional Center inmate Brandon Weathers had refused to be tested, so they obtained a court order. Guards held him down and swabbed his cheek, and the Nebraska State Patrol DNA lab checked his sample against unsolved cases. Kleine says Weathers DNA matched the suspect sought in four cases.

Thats progress, even if it took prodding.

Kleine says he expects to charge Weathers with four counts of first-degree sexual assault. Weathers is already serving a 100- to 160-year sentence for raping a 13-year-old foster child.

Heres hoping more crimes can be solved as the state makes more felons comply with the law.

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Editorial: Crime victims show why DNA testing of prisoners matters ... - Omaha World-Herald