1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to Senate Bill 912, which proposes to expand DNA collection to include individuals arrested for or charged with certain offenses, including juveniles. This bill represents a massive and unwarranted expansion of genetic surveillance that violates fundamental constitutional principles. Our current law already allows for DNA collection from individuals convicted of hundreds of crimes. SB 912 goes far beyond this, targeting people who are presumed innocent under the law. This violates due process, protection from unreasonable searches, and the right to privacy that we hold dear as Pennsylvanians and Americans. DNA is not comparable to fingerprints. It contains intimate genetic information that goes well beyond mere identification. Collecting this data from arrestees and juveniles who have not been convicted of any crime is an egregious overreach of government power. Furthermore, this bill is likely to disproportionately impact communities of color. Given the well-documented issues of over-policing and higher arrest rates in these communities, SB 912 would exacerbate existing racial disparities in our criminal justice system. The proposed expansion is not only constitutionally problematic but also impractical. It would be costly to implement and would likely overwhelm Pennsylvania's forensic DNA caseload, worsening existing backlogs. This could paradoxically hinder, rather than help, law enforcement efforts. I urge you to vote against SB 912. Instead, please focus on criminal justice reforms that protect civil liberties, promote racial equity, and uphold the presumption of innocence. Our state needs policies that strengthen community trust in law enforcement, not erode it through invasive surveillance measures. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I look forward to hearing about your stance on SB 912 and your plans to protect the privacy and due process rights of all Pennsylvanians.