JEFFERSON CITY — Today (2-18), State Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton, filed a bill requiring that DNA be taken from all people arrested and charged with felonies in Missouri.

Missouri is one of 27 states that already requires DNA collection for certain felony offenses, such as murder and rape. Senator Sifton believes that expanding DNA collection to all felonies will help catch more criminals.

“Fifteen other states have already taken this important crime-fighting step,” Sen. Sifton said. “Statistics from those states prove that taking DNA samples from a broader universe of suspects will help solve unsolved crimes. New Mexico alone found 118 new matches for crimes that would have otherwise gone unprosecuted."

“A new federal grant program encouraging expanded DNA collection would help fund the expanded collection efforts,” Sen. Sifton added. “This bill will ensure local and state law enforcement agencies have access to the most accurate technology and information to identify suspects and, just as importantly, exonerate the innocent.”

Senator Sifton’s bill is Senate Bill 879.

To see a complete list of all bills filed by Sen. Sifton this session, please visit www.senate.mo.gov/Sifton.