North Carolina's criminal DNA testing system will be expanded now that Gov. Beverly Perdue has signed a bill into law that she says will prevent crime and solve cold cases.
Attorney General Roy Cooper and lawmakers joined Perdue in a bill-signing ceremony on Thursday at the Greenville police department.
The measure directs police starting in February to take DNA samples of suspects charged with murder, rape and other serious crimes.
The sample will be entered into the state DNA database to determine whether the person may be linked to other crimes. The DNA record will be deleted if the person is acquitted or charges are dismissed.
The state already takes a sample when a person is convicted of a felony.
Opponents of the bill cited civil liberties concerns.
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