A bill was amended and advanced from general file March 3 that would allow incarcerated individuals to request that a court reconsider evidence used in their trials.<\/p>\n
Introduced by Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, LB245 would allow a person in custody to request DNA testing of previously tested material if current technology could provide more accurate or probative results. Currently material can be retested only if a court determines that such forensic testing did not exist at the time of the trial.<\/p>\n
Pansing Brooks said the bill would clarify language in the Nebraska DNA Testing Act to give more options to people who feel they were wrongly convicted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to make sure justice is done and that we are not keeping innocent people in prison,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers, who introduced the Nebraska DNA Testing Act in 2001, supported the bill. Lawmakers should always be attentive to scientific innovation and update laws accordingly, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should never object to research and development, and, where necessary, experimentation,\u201d Chambers said.<\/p>\n
A Judiciary Committee amendment added provisions from LB244, also introduced by Pansing Brooks. Adopted 35-0, the amendment allows motions for new trials to be filed whenever new non-DNA evidence is discovered. Currently, motions may be filed only within three years of a verdict when based on discovery of new non-DNA evidence.<\/p>\n
Hastings Sen. Les Seiler said the amendment and bill are important to ensure statutes keep pace with scientific progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to catch up with science,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Senators advanced the amended bill to select file on a 35-0 vote.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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