DNA to be tracked for petty crimes

Orange County will create the nation's first local DNA database to track petty crimes such as car break-ins and home burglaries.

Calling DNA tracking the "greatest breakthrough in law enforcement since fingerprints and the two-way radio," District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told county supervisors Tuesday he plans to create a local database that will help catch criminals for petty crimes that previously went unsolved.

With unanimous support from county supervisors, Rackauckas will work with the Sheriff's Department and the British government's Forensic Science Service to create the database.

Two pilot programs – with the Santa Ana and Anaheim police departments and Sheriff's Deputies patrolling South County – are using DNA analysis in property crimes. The new program would enhance those efforts by offering a way to track the DNA collected at such crimes.

Rackauckas noted that in Britain, DNA collection has made leaps in solving minor crimes. For example, he said, solved cases involving car burglaries went from an 8 percent rate to 63 percent once DNA tracking was enabled.

Supervisors authorized Rackauckas to spend up to $500,000 to purchase the software used for the database. Samples will be sent to the British lab to establish the database and local officials will update the database.

Sheriff Mike Carona called the plan "an innovative concept" that could quickly be adopted across the state and nation.

Rackauckas said DNA samples will now be required as part of plea deals involving the granting of probation.

"It's more inclusive than the state and federal database in that it will include everybody that pleads guilty to a felony or misdemeanor," he said.

Rackauckas said he had not yet consulted with Orange County Public Defender Deborah A. Kwast, who did not return a call seeking comment.

"We will be discussing that with them in the future," Rackauckas said. "It's certainly a valid condition of probation."

The plan has drawn the attention of local government unions, uneasy about a similar program that involves the outsourcing of DNA analysis. Rackauckas had expressed concerns about the Sheriff's crime lab being able to quickly turnaround the DNA from the existing pilot programs which led to a limited outsourcing those tests.

Increased use of DNA tracking could provide new challenges to local law enforcement agencies. While many people might not call police after a car burglary, such calls could spike once the public finds out they can be solved.

Rackauckas acknowledged such investigations could impact staffing demands for local police. Yet he figures that "as this becomes more the norm, they'll get the manpower to do it."