WaPo: Md. DNA law at center of SCOTUS case aided 43 convictions; many possible even without new law

WaPo: Md. DNA law at center of SCOTUS case aided 43 convictions; many possible even without new law by Associated Press: WASHINGTON — A Maryland DNA law being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court helped lead to 43 convictions over the past four years, but state data shows the majority of the convictions could eventually have happened even without the new law. For years, Maryland required people convicted of serious crimes to provide a DNA sample. The sample, taken from a swab of saliva, was then compared against a database of DNA evidence from crime scenes, and some old cases were able to be solved. Maryland changed its law in 2009, however, so that people had to provide the saliva sample when they were arrested on charges of committing certain violent crimes — before going to trial. Note: Maryland v. King is being argued Tuesday, Feb. 26 (ScotusBlog). Issue: Whether the Fourth Amendment allows the states to collect and analyze DNA from people arrested and charged with serious crimes.