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House votes to remove inmates' DNA deadline
If senators concur, prisoners who think DNA can prove their innocence can seek tests at any time - even if they pleaded guilty.
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 22, 2006
TALLAHASSEE - Inmates who think DNA can prove their innocence would no longer face a deadline for pursuing the issue under a measure passed Friday by the Florida House.
When lawmakers four years ago gave prisoners the right to seek DNA tests to try to prove their innocence, they put a time limit on the measure. The deadline came in October, but was extended to this coming July by the state Supreme Court.
The measure, which passed 113-1, removes the time limit and allows anyone convicted of a felony and sentenced at any time to petition for DNA testing.
Starting July 1, the bill, if passed, also will allow prisoners who pleaded guilty or no contest to seek to have their plea thrown out if DNA evidence arises that they had no access to before they entered their plea.
"Justice should have no deadline," said Rep. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.
"It's never too late to do the right thing," added Rep. Mary Brandenburg, D-West Palm Beach.
Earlier in the week, two men who were exonerated by DNA evidence after spending years in prison visited the House to watch debate on the bill. Alan Crotzer of St. Petersburg was set free this year after spending more than 24 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. Wilton Dedge received $2-million from lawmakers last year to compensate for doing 22 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. The only dissenting vote in the House came from Rep. Bruce Kyle, R-Fort Myers, who said he was standing up for victims of crime. He said the measure could allow prisoners to seek to be freed or get lighter sentences years after a crime when prosecutors can no longer strongly refute the prisoner's claims.
The measure requires DNA evidence from crimes to be kept as long as the person's sentence.
The bill (HB 61), sponsored by Rep. John Quinones, R-Kissimmee and Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, now goes to the Senate where a similar measure is still in the committee process.
[Last modified April 22, 2006, 01:38:14]
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