Colorado expands access to DNA testing after criminal convictions
A new state law took effect on Sunday, increasing eligibility for people convicted of felonies to receive DNA testing.
Before Sunday, only people who are actively incarcerated could receive DNA testing. Now, it's open to people on felony parole, registered sex offenders, people who have completed their sentences, and people who were found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The new law is intended to provide recourse for those who may have been falsely convicted. Under the previous law, only three Coloradans in two decades had been exonerated of crimes for DNA-related reasons.
“Wrongful convictions ruin the lives of innocent people across our nation and can lead to cycles of poverty and incarceration that devastate families and perpetuate injustice,” said Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, D-Arvada, who sponsored the law. “When someone is wrongly convicted, that means the real perpetrator is likely still on the street. ... This law will lead to safer communities and a more just and trusted legal system for Coloradans.”