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Criminal

Apr. 16, 2009

O.C. District Attorney Dropping Charges to Get Defendants' DNA

A program in Orange County allows criminal defendants to have their charges lessened if they are willing to give up their DNA.

By Don J. DeBenedictis
Daily Journal Staff Writer

SANTA ANA - In a bid to build his much touted DNA database and trim prosecution costs, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is dismissing drug and misdemeanor charges in exchange for the defendant's DNA.

The program - formally known as "DNA Collection and Crime Deterrence Program" but termed "spit and acquit" by some courtroom observers - ostensibly aims to increase the use of DNA evide...

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