ACLU aims to halt Coercive DNA Testing in Cape Cod

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  • Police Approaching People in Public Asking for DNA Samples.
  • Those who Refuse are Considered Suspects
Calling the tactics "an insidious form of coercion," the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts is calling on the Cape and Islands District Attorney and the Truro police chief to stop collecting genetic samples from Truro men. The collection, which began last week and is expected to continue indefinitely and possibly spread to neighboring towns, is widely considered a last-ditch effort to solve the murder of Christa Worthington by attempting to locate the last man with whom she had sex. Worthington was found stabbed to death in her Truro home three years ago this month. In a letter to District Attorney Michael O'Keefe and Police Chief John Thomas, the ACLU called the procedure "a serious intrusion of privacy" that raises constitutional issues. Additionally, the method is costly and generally unsuccessful, it said. The letter was written by Carol Rose, executive director, and John Reinstein, legal director. For each sample taken, police are recording the person's name, date of birth and race. The samples were sought in public places, including the post office, the transfer station and a local store. The ACLU took particular issue with the public setting of the requests.  "The circumstances under which the DNA samples have been reported as being obtained strongly suggest an element of coercion: The officers seeking the samples having been confronting people in public settings, asking them in front of other people if they are willing to do their part to help solve a heinous crime, and giving them little time to decide," the ACLU wrote.  Moreover, the letter said, "both the police and district attorney have publicly stated that anyone who refuses will, in effect, become a suspect in the case," a statement that "attaches a penalty to the assertion of one's constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches. [more]
  • ACLU Raps 'DNA Dragnet' in Cape Cod Murder Case [more] and [more]