Judge blocks sharing juvenile DNA results for now

By Deborah Yetter

The Courier-Journal

FRANKFORT, Ky. — State juvenile justice officials can begin taking DNA samples from juveniles who have committed felony sex offenses or burglary, a judge ruled Wednesday.

But the state may not share the results with federal authorities — as it now does with samples from adult offenders — until Franklin Circuit Judge Roger Crittenden decides whether Kentucky law permits the state to expand DNA testing to juveniles.

Crittenden said he will rule after both sides have time to file more pleadings in the case.

Public defenders for juveniles filed suit last month to block the procedure, arguing the Juvenile Justice Department has no legal authority to collect DNA from children.

Tim Arnold, a lawyer with the Department of Public Advocacy representing juveniles, said he was pleased the judge barred the state from putting the samples into a federal database used to help solve other crimes.

State officials didn’t immediately know how soon they would begin collecting blood samples used for the DNA testing.

Read more about the DNA sampling program in Thursday’s Courier-Journal.