Some Md. Police Stop Taking DNA Samples

Maryland, Anne Arundel County and Annapolis police have announced that they will no longer be collecting DNA samples from those arrested for violent crimes.

May 2, 2012

Maryland, Anne Arundel County and Annapolis police have announced that they will no longer be collecting DNA samples from those arrested for violent crimes.

Last week the state's highest court struck down part of a law that allowed police to collect DNA samples from those accused of committing violent crimes or trying to commit one.

The Court of Appeals voted 5-2 to overturn the rape conviction and life sentence of Alonzo Jay King Jr. The court determined that King's Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches was violated when Wicomico County police collected a sample of his DNA following his 2009 arrest on other charges.

Maryland State Police announced on Friday that, in light of the court's ruling, they would no longer be collecting DNA. On Monday morning, county and Annapolis police also said that they would halt the practice immediately.

The law took effect in 2008. Gov. Martin O'Malley supported it; critics contended that it violated civil rights.