Full Notification

Contact: Elise Schaffer, PIO
Phone: (608) 284-6142
Email: [email protected]

Dane County Conducts DNA Sweep

Madison, WI. November 27, 2012 – Dane County Sheriff’s deputies were joined today by police officers from Madison, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, and Middleton to conduct the first ever DNA sweep in Dane County.

On a quarterly basis, the Office of Justice Assistance estimates that between 100 and 120 individuals living in Dane County are required to submit a DNA sample to the Wisconsin DNA Databank. Everyone on the list is first sent a letter, in an attempt to get voluntary compliance with the process. In many cases, additional attempts were made via certified letter from the Dane County District Attorney’s Office. Today, approximately 30 law enforcement officers are making attempts to contact those individuals who have not complied in submitting a sample. There are currently 93 people listed in noncompliance.

Most of the people required by law to submit a DNA sample, have either been convicted of a felony or sexual assault charge. The WI DNA Databank stores the information in a computer searchable form. That information is then used to relate serial cases and solve “no suspect” cases by relating them to samples of a known source.

During today’s sweep, when law enforcement is able to make contact with someone on the list, they are first given the opportunity to voluntarily comply. In those situations, the officer will take the persons fingerprints and mouth swab on the spot. If the person chooses not to comply, they will be brought to the Dane County Jail, where they will be booked and released under WI State Statute 165.75, Submission of human biological specimen, a Class A misdemeanor.

As of about 2:00 pm, fourteen samples had been collected and one of the contacts resulted in an outstanding warrant arrest. Participating agencies will continue to make contacts until at least 4:00 pm. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office anticipates this initiative becoming an annual event. If you are legally required to submit a DNA sample to the DNA Databank and have not yet done so, you can schedule an appointment through your probation/parole agent or report in person to the bail window on the first floor of the Public Safety Building, located at 115 W. Doty Street in Madison.