We strongly oppose legislation requiring Indiana sheriffs to collect DNA samples from individuals taken into custody for a felony. This bill also imposes a Class C misdemeanor penalty for refusing to provide a DNA sample.
DNA sampling of arrestees goes against the principles of the 4th Amendment. We should not allow, much less require, Indiana sheriffs to conduct a search - which is what a DNA swab is without reasonable and individualized suspicion that the search will lead to evidence relevant to the suspected crime.
The risks associated with requiring DNA samples at the time of arrest are profound. This legislation jeopardizes our fundamental rights and personal freedoms without adequate safeguards or justification.
