Stop Mass DNA Collection

Act Now

Pennsylvanians expect to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. We expect to be considered innocent until proven guilty. We expect to be granted due process of law.

Some state senators in Pennsylvania want to undermine these basic principles by requiring DNA collection from everyone arrested for, but not convicted of, a long list of hundreds of crimes. Before a person has even had their day in the court, they’d have to give up their genetic code, if these senators have their way.

Forcing someone to give up a bodily sample, without a warrant from a court, allows the government to circumvent their rights to privacy and due process. This bill, Senate Bill 988, is a massive expansion of law enforcement surveillance. Once you’re in the DNA database, you become a permanent suspect.

We know that communities of color in Pennsylvania are overpoliced and that the criminal legal system is racist. While the loss of the right to privacy in this bill would fall on everyone arrested for one of these crimes, the burden would disproportionately fall on Black and brown Pennsylvanians.

This bill has died in the legislature before. Help us defeat it again.

Tell your state senator to vote "no" on Senate Bill 988.

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The state Senate is currently considering legislation, Senate Bill 988, to collect DNA from people who have not been convicted of a crime and without a warrant from a court. This bill undermines the presumption of innocence and right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Please vote "no" on SB 988.

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I hope you take the principles embedded in our constitution seriously. Vote "no" on Senate Bill 988.

Sincerely,

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Stop Mass DNA Collection

Act Now

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