State of MS Underfunded for DNA Testing

According to recent reports from Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, the state is underfunded for DNA testing.

This past month, a state task force reportedly met to analyze various ways the testing of DNA evidence can be improved in local communities.

Lack of DNA Support Exposed

The lack of DNA support in the state was revealed after the exoneration of Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks, two men separately convicted of murdering two children.

Brewer’s innocence was proven greatly due to the efforts of the Mississippi Innocence Project, which is an organization dedicated to freeing innocent prisoners.

Bigger Budget Needed

Hood claims that a much larger budget will be needed for the crime labs in Mississippi to be considered competent.

“We need roughly $16 million,” says Hood. “We don’t just need proper facilities, though. We need properly qualified personnel to run them.”

Many Innocent People Wrongly Convicted

Reports show that since 2000, there have been 156 exonerations in the state of Mississippi.

Of this number, 17 of the 220 people exonerated through DNA spent a good amount of time on death row.

“One thing we have found is that the state of Mississippi has only been swabbing criminals who have been incarcerated, not people on probation,” explains Hood. “That could make the difference between arrest and conviction. We have a duty to protect the innocent.”

(Source: Daily Mississippian)

Do you know someone who is serving time in jail for a crime they didn’t commit? Please contact us to speak with an experienced attorney who will evaluate the case and ensure your loved ones are getting the legal support they need.