by Milan Simonich
El Paso Times
SANTA FE, N.M. — Police will collect DNA samples from everybody arrested in a felony in New Mexico starting July 1.
The bill, called Katie’s Law, expands an existing statute that required DNA collections in certain felonies, mostly crimes of violence.
State Sen. Vernon Asbill, R-Carlsbad, sponsored the bill. He predicted that increasing DNA collections will get more dangerous people off the streets before they hurt someone else.
Legislators named the law after Katie Sepich, raped and slain at age 22 by a stranger in Las Cruces.
DNA pinpointed her killer, though it took three years because collections formerly were done only after convictions. The man who assaulted and murdered Sepich was arrested and convicted in a burglary.
Sepich grew up in Carlsbad and received her high school diploma from Asbill when he was superintendent of schools.
Another law taking effect July 1 will require more training for police officers in defusing confrontations with mentally ill people. The bill requires a minimum of 40 hours of crisis management instruction.
Rep. Edward Sandoval, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. David Ulibarri, D-Grants, sponsored the bill. They said they were motivated by a case in which police shot and killed an armed man outside a store in Albuquerque.
The man, a veteran, had served in the war in Iraq. His family said he had drug problems and post-traumatic stress disorder.
A third new law related to the legal system will make it possible for children under age 16 to testify by videotape in criminal or civil proceedings.
The sponsor, Rep. Bill O’Neill, D-Albuquerque, said the bill could spare children the trauma of a face-to-face confrontation with a defendant.
Copyright 2011 El Paso Times, a MediaNews Group Newspaper