Texas House Bill HB2932

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/17/09
• Voted on by House: 4/29/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/21/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/27/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/31/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to including in the law enforcement information system information indicating that criminal defendants have committed certain additional offenses.

Impact

The implementation of HB 2932 is expected to have significant implications for the criminal justice system in Texas. By incorporating forensic DNA test results, law enforcement agencies can better assess the criminal backgrounds of individuals charged with offenses. This enhancement could lead to increased accuracy in criminal investigations and prosecutions, as well as potentially serving as a deterrent for habitual offenders who know their additional offenses could be revealed through increased scrutiny of their DNA test results.

Summary

House Bill 2932 aims to enhance the computerized criminal history system by mandating the inclusion of certain forensic DNA test results that indicate a defendant's likelihood of having committed other offenses. Specifically, the bill seeks to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Government Code to ensure that this crucial information is part of the criminal history records maintained by law enforcement agencies. This change is expected to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's criminal history, which could be pivotal during prosecutions and sentencing.

Contention

While the bill holds potential benefits in terms of improving public safety and criminal investigations, there may be concerns regarding privacy and due process. Critics of such legislation may argue that including DNA test results indicating other offenses could lead to potential misinterpretations or misuse of this information, which could unfairly impact defendants. Additionally, questions may arise about the reliability and interpretation of forensic DNA evidence, raising concerns about wrongful accusations or convictions based on this information alone.