The juvenile justice system was intended to prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. However, the overuse of juvenile DNA collection conflicts with the rehabilitative purposes of the juvenile system.
 
Juvenile DNA collection has become more common due to the expansion of qualifying offenses for DNA collection. In Pennsylvania, DNA may be collected from juveniles for both felonies and misdemeanors. DNA expungement is not automatic; the burden falls to the individual to request expungement, which is rarely granted. As a result, many DNA profiles remain in the system although the juvenile criminal records have long been sealed or expunged.
 
Last session, I introduced legislation (HB841) limiting DNA collection for juveniles to those tried as adults or adjudicated delinquent for serious sexual and violent offenses, such as murder and rape. Moreover, the legislation would have required the automatic expungement of DNA already collected for juveniles at the time the applicable offense would be eligible for expungement.
 
This legislation passed the House, but, sadly, died in the Senate.
 
It is imperative we improve DNA collection requirements and expungement in order to further promote rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system, which is why I plan on reintroducing this bill. Please join me in co-sponsoring this vital legislation.
 
Prior co-sponsor: Sanchez, Madden, Khan, Krajewski, Kinkead, Rabb, T. Davis, and Briggs.
 

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 0769: 44-2302(4)