Mass. DA's Pressing Lawmakers To Expand DNA, Wiretap Laws
BOSTON (AP) — The state's district attorneys are pressing Beacon Hill lawmakers to make key changes to Massachusetts' public safety laws before the end for the formal session in July.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Carl Stevens reports.
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The district attorneys want lawmakers to expand the state's wiretapping laws, which haven't been updated since 1968 — before the advent of cell phones and the Internet.
Prosecutors also want to be able to take DNA swabs of anyone arrested for a felony. Under current state law, DNA samples can only be taken after a conviction.
Under their proposal, DNA samples taken at the time of arrest could be used for other investigations, but wouldn't be entered into the FBI's database until after a conviction.
House and Senate lawmakers are trying to hammer out a compromise version of separate crime bills already approved by each chamber.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
