Vallone Welcomes Spitzer's DNA Reform

Governor Eliot Spitzer's addition of nearly every convicted criminal to the state's DNA database was hailed by City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. that assures a greater degree of justice for everyone.

"DNA is an important crimefighting tool that is more accurate and easy to gather than fingerprints or other modes of identification, Vallone said. "By expanding this database we both make sure the people who deserve to be in prison go there, and those who were wrongly imprisoned can get out."

The governor took action to expand the database last week. Vallone recalled that he had introduced a resolution in 2002 calling on Albany to take these measures for all felonies and misdemeanors.

The governor's proposal "aims to fulfill those goals and goes beyond them, asking current sex offenders and parolees to also provide a DNA sample," Vallone said.- John Toscano