Should every prisoner have the right to have their DNA tested.......

[MODU]

A mix of sbane's and Stampever's answeres.  Let there be tests if it can prove innocence.  However, once the DNA info is on record, it should be used to check aginst prior and future cases by the state.

[minionofmidas]

Only those where some usable scratch of DNA evidence is available, duh. And at taxpayers' expense, duh.

And given how incredibly common wrong convictions have proven in that specific field, requiring DNA evidence in all cases of Black-on-White rape seems a good idea too.

[Earth]

As long as the Federal government is paying for their imprisonment, why shouldn't the Federal government be obliged to test for their innocence?

I agree.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Should every prisoner have the right to have a DNA test?  Of course.

Should every prisoner have the right to a DNA test at taxpayer expense?  No.  But I would be willing to spend taxpayer money on DNA tests for prisoners facing capital offenses.  Those are cases where it's worth spending a few extra bucks to make sure everything is on the up and up.

And yes, of course—any DNA evidence collected in unsolved cases should be matched against these taxpayer-funded samples.