Senate passes bill permanently extending inmate DNA tests

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio inmates may continue to seek state-paid DNA tests in search of evidence that could free them under a bill the Ohio Senate passed unanimously on Tuesday.

The bill heads to the House, where the sponsor, Sen. David Goodman, has said he would seek changes making more inmates eligible for the tests.

A law the Columbus-area Republican got passed two years ago allows the tests only if inmates can show any reasonable jury would acquit them if the DNA result comes back favorable to them. Other requirements include having biological evidence to test and at least a year remaining on a prison sentence.

Mostly because of that jury standard, 220 inmates who sought the tests were turned away in two years of the program. Another 72 requests are pending. DNA tests were done on 14 convicts, and one was cleared.

Another former inmate, Clarence Elkins, was cleared under the law last December even though his DNA testing was obtained privately.

Supporters of the bill also back an amendment changing the jury standard to showing a high probability of acquittal, instead of proving a jury definitely would exonerate the inmate.