May 12, 2015

Ohio House extends time in which rape prosecutions can be brought amid ongoing DNA testing

5-12-2015 Ohio:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio House has passed a bill to extend the time period for prosecuting rape and sexual battery to 25 years after the crime.

The bill also provides an additional five years for prosecution from the time a potential suspect is identified through DNA testing.

The legislation comes as the Attorney General's Office continues to plow through a backlog of untested rape kits, with numerous cases of DNA matches in a criminal database.

The House approved the bill Tuesday and sent it to the Senate.

Opponents have told lawmakers they believe the bill is unconstitutional because it creates two classes of offenders — those whose cases involve DNA evidence, and those whose cases don't. ..Source.. by The Republic

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