The state of Michigan currently obtains DNA swabs from people arrested on suspicion of murder, rape and similar violent crimes. This bill would require DNA samples from those convicted of lesser felonies as well. If someone is found innocent, the DNA will then be erased from the database. Anyone who refuses to provide these samples would be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than a year and not more than $1,000, or both.

“Right now in Michigan, monsters are walking around the street — monsters who have committed rape, murder and child molestation — and they have not been caught.” Jones said. “This will help to solve many of these cold cases and get those monsters off the street.”

East Lansing Police Department, or ELPD, Chief of Police Juli Liebler, said she was in favor of these changes, as they have solved some cases using DNA matches. She said for any serious crime, they try to collect as much DNA as possible.

“(This) would help law enforcement in general because it provides a larger database,” Liebler said. “Sometimes we run into a problem (where) we have a DNA sample from a suspect, but since they aren’t registered, we sometimes aren’t able to solve very serious crimes.”

Human biology junior Ellie Martines said she can’t see a reason to object to the bill.

“I mean, if you have something to hide, you’re obviously going to say you don’t want to have (DNA) taken,” Martines said. “I’ve never done anything wrong, and if I was arrested for a felony, I would have no problem giving it to them.”

Jones said Gov. Rick Snyder hopes to have the bill implemented sometime this fall. There was no opposition for the bill, and it passed unanimously and now has to pass through the entire house, Jones said.

“DNA is the modern fingerprint,” Jones said. “Residents of Michigan hopefully will have a safer Michigan in the future with less dangerous people walking the streets.”