Petition Against DNA Requirement for Former South Carolina Inmates Not Charged with Violent Crimes Since Prison Release

Legally forcing non-violent probationers and former inmates of the South Carolina Dept. of Corrections (specifically former prisoners who have not been charged with violent crimes since release) is unconstitutional. Many former inmates now reside in other states and have had ongoing health conditions that preclude them from achieving financial succcess. Health issues often hamper one's ability to maintain a job, thus negatively affecting financial stability. As a result, these individuals cannot afford:

1) to pay for the cost of DNA testing;

2) the cost of travel from the state in which they currently reside to South Carolina;

3) jeopardizing their health / putting major health concerns on hold, and

4) taking time off from a job to travel to and from South Carolina.

Additionally, it is impossible for probationers residing in large metropolitan cities to engage a court-ordered travel chaperone, i.e., one's probation officer, to travel with him or her to South Carolina.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS HAS ALREADY RECEIVED FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF THE DNA TESTS. THE DEPARTMENT IS NOT A PRIVATE, FOR-PROFIT COMPANY, HOWEVER, IT IS OPERATING AS SUCH. IT IS EFFECTIVELY "GETTING PAID TWICE" FOR THE DNA TESTS, PROFITING FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS INDIGENT FORMER & CURRENT PRISONERS.