NSW: Police to DNA test prisoners before release

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2000
NSW: Police to DNA test prisoners before release

More than 5,000 inmates serving sentences of more than five years for serious offences
are reportedly to be DNA tested under new New South Wales laws.

The Sunday Telegraph says some 1,400 will undergo the tests within the next six months,
prior to their release from jail.

The paper quotes police minister PAUL WHELAN as saying it is hoped the samples will
help police solve up to 60 per cent of the State's major unsolved crimes.

Mr WHELAN says studies show that many of the crimes are committed by repeat offenders
and so the government has made prisoner testing a priority.

Under new laws, all prisoners serving sentences for murder, rape, abduction, child
abuse, drug trafficking, armed hold-ups and extortion may volunteer a mouth swab for DNA
testing.

The paper says those who refuse may have hair samples forcefully removed, or blood
samples taken under court order.

AAP RTV psm/wz A

KEYWORD: TESTS (SYDNEY)

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