Media Release

For Immediate Release
Date: July 19, 2005
Contact : Robert Marshall, PhD 401-222-1017

Health Department Expands Criminal DNA Testing
RI Budget Increases Participation in National DNA Database

Today Dr. David Gifford, Director of the RI Department of Health (HEALTH), hailed the recent passage of the RI State Budget for including an additional $117,826 for state participation in the CODIS project. CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) is the FBI’s national database of DNA profiles. Law enforcement officials use CODIS to help solve crimes by matching DNA found at crime scenes with the DNA of convicted offenders. The new appropriations will enable HEALTH to hire one full-time and one part-time employee to obtain DNA samples from all convicted felons in the state and enter the DNA profiles into CODIS.

“With this new support from the State’s FY 2006 budget, the DNA database will expand rapidly,” said Dr. Gifford. “Undoubtedly this effort will assist in more successful investigations here in Rhode Island and nationwide. We are very appreciative of the support the Governor and the General Assembly have shown for this program and for their commitment to protecting the safety of all Rhode Islanders.”

HEALTH already took steps to enhance the CODIS program in anticipation of the new funding by initiating discussions about specimen collection and other logistical issues with the Department of Corrections and the Attorney General’s Office. Recruitment of staff is set to begin, and DNA collection kits are on order.

The national CODIS program contains over 2.3 million searchable DNA profiles and aided nearly 25,000 investigations since its inception in 1994. In 2004, the Rhode Island General Assembly expanded the state’s collection of samples for CODIS to include all adult convicted felons. So far Rhode Island’s CODIS Database contains just over 400 DNA profiles, but has already aided two “breaking and entering” investigations –one in Johnston, and another one in Warwick. The samples obtained at each of the crime scenes were matched to convicted offender profiles--one from the New York State database, and the second from Florida. Being able to identify the suspects through CODIS matches has been a crucial first step for these ongoing criminal investigations. The additional funding will allow the state to expand its testing to fully populate the database with information on all convicted felons—a key goal of the program.

For more information about forensic DNA testing, including links with other national websites go to: http://www.health.ri.gov/labs/forensic_dna.php.