THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. JOSEPH M. OLIVAS, ET AL, Appellants.
No. 59436-8
En Banc.
August 12, 1993
Reconsideration denied September 20, 1993
In conclusion, I would hold that Washington‘s sexually violent predator Statute,
UTTER and SMITH, JJ., concur with JOHNSON, J.
Reconsideration denied September 20, 1993.
Jeffrey C. Sullivan, Prosecuting Attorney, and Bruce Hanify, Deputy, for respondent.
SMITH, J. — These are consolidated appeals challenging orders of the Yakima County Superior Court authorizing the State to perform DNA blood tests on Appellants pursuant to
STATEMENT OF FACTS
Each of the seven appellants (Joseph M. Olivas, Norman M. Skyles, Jorge V. Gallardo, Robert Ayala, Arnoldo A. Alcaraz, Alejandro L. Cruz and Michael C. Briggs) (Appellants) entered pleas of “guilty” to the crimes charged or to reduced charges. In each case a blood sample was ordered for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) identification purposes pursuant to
State v. Joseph M. Olivas
Appellant Joseph M. Olivas was charged with first degree burglary and first degree assault in the Yakima County Superior Court. On April 17, 1991, he pleaded “guilty” to
Nine days later, at a hearing on April 26, 1991, the State asked Judge Brown to order a blood sample from Mr. Olivas for DNA identification analysis pursuant to
State v. Norman M. Skyles
On January 2, 1991, Appellant Norman M. Skyles reported to the Selah Police that he believed he had molested his 8-year-old niece. After further investigation, he was charged in the Yakima County Superior Court with child molestation in the first degree.4
On March 15, 1991, Appellant Skyles pleaded “guilty” to indecent liberties before the Honorable Susan L. Hahn. On May 28, 1991, he was sentenced to 36 months’ incarceration by the Honorable Heather K. Van Nuys. His counsel objected to the State‘s request for DNA testing as unconstitutional, arguing that there was no probable cause, that it constituted an illegal search, and that it was only being used to accumulate evidence against future uncommitted offenses. Counsel nevertheless stated that he had no objection to HIV testing. Judge Van Nuys observed that there was probable cause to require the test based upon Appellant Skyles’ plea of “guilty“. She then ordered the test, concluding that the search by DNA testing was no longer illegal. On May 29, 1991, Appellant Skyles filed a notice of appeal from that order.5
State v. Jorge V. Gallardo
Appellant Jorge V. Gallardo was arrested on May 4, 1991, and subsequently charged in the Yakima County Superior Court with second degree assault. On June 27, 1991, he pleaded “guilty” to that charge before Judge Van Nuys and was sentenced to 9 months’ incarceration. His counsel objected to the State‘s request for DNA testing as an unreasonable search and seizure, arguing that there was no probable cause to search for new evidence after the guilty plea, and that such evidence was only being accumulated for future criminal prosecutions. Judge Van Nuys equated DNA testing with mug shots and fingerprints. Appellant Gallar-
State v. Robert Ayala
Appellant Robert Ayala was charged in the Yakima County Superior Court with attempted second degree rape arising out of an incident on March 24, 1991. On May 5, 1991, he pleaded “guilty” to that charge before Judge Pro Tempore Michael E. Schwab. On June 13, 1991, Mr. Ayala was sentenced to 36 months’ incarceration by the Honorable Susan L. Hahn. She entered findings of fact and conclusions of law to justify an exceptional sentence below the standard range and ordered DNA testing. She found that there was no actual sexual contact between Mr. Ayala and the victim. Mr. Ayala‘s counsel objected to DNA testing as an unreasonable search, declaring that there was no probable cause to accumulate evidence for future uncommitted crimes, that blood samples are quite distinct from fingerprints and photographs, that DNA testing is not accepted nationwide as meeting the Frye test, and that a high rate of recidivism does not justify unreasonable searches. Judge Hahn acknowledged a distinction between fingerprints and DNA for identification, but concluded that the statute mandates DNA testing. She ordered the test. On June 25, 1991, Appellant Ayala filed a notice of appeal from that order.7
State v. Arnoldo A. Alcaraz
Appellant Arnoldo A. Alcaraz was charged in the Yakima County Superior Court with first degree assault arising out
State v. Alejandro L. Cruz
Appellant Alejandro L. Cruz, age 18, was charged in the Yakima County Superior Court with second degree rape of a child arising out of an act of sexual intercourse with his 13-year-old girlfriend on June 6, 1991. On July 10, 1991, before Judge Van Nuys, he pleaded “guilty” to second degree child molestation and was sentenced to 15 months’ incarceration. His counsel objected to the State‘s proposed order for DNA testing, asking the court to “incorporate our previous argument by reference to save time.” Judge Van Nuys noted the objection, considered the prior arguments, ruled the statute constitutional and ordered DNA testing. On July 11, 1991, Appellant Cruz filed a notice of appeal from that order.9
State v. Michael C. Briggs
Appellant Michael C. Briggs was charged in the Yakima County Superior Court with first degree assault and first degree robbery arising out of a demand for money from an acquaintance and a stabbing on June 18, 1991. On July 10, 1991, before Judge Van Nuys, he pleaded “guilty” to first degree robbery and was sentenced to 70 months’ incarceration. The other count was dismissed. Judge Van Nuys ordered DNA testing over objection of defense counsel. On July 11,
All the appellants make only one assignment of error: that in each case the trial court erred by ordering a blood sample for DNA purposes pursuant to
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
The questions presented by these consolidated cases are (1) whether the drawing of blood for DNA testing pursuant to
DISCUSSION
Constitutional Factors: State v. Gunwall12
In several recent cases where counsel has not thoroughly briefed and discussed state constitutional grounds indepen-
Under criteria announced in Gunwall, six nonexclusive factors must be briefed before this court will consider an independent state constitutional claim: (1) differences in the textual language of the applicable state and federal provisions; (2) significant differences in the texts of other parallel provisions of the two constitutions; (3) state constitutional and common law history and development; (4) state law preexisting declaration of the federal standard; (5) structural differences between the two constitutions; and (6) matters of state interest or local concern where there is no need for national uniformity.15
In this case Appellants claim that
Search and Seizure
Appellants claim that each of the blood samples ordered drawn for DNA analysis constitutes an unconstitutional
Appellants argue that the United States Supreme Court has consistently held that requiring a person to provide blood or other bodily fluids to the State constitutes a search and seizure within the scope of the Fourth Amendment. They cite Schmerber v. California19 and Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Ass‘n20 in support of their assertion that “it is obvious that this physical intrusion, penetrating beneath the skin, infringes an expectation of privacy that society is prepared to recognize as reasonable. The ensuing . . . analysis of the sample to obtain . . . data is a further invasion of the tested [person‘s] privacy interests.”21 The State acknowledges that nonconsensual blood extraction constitutes a search.22
Appellants also claim that
The State claims that mandatory blood tests are constitutional searches, arguing that the Legislature found that a DNA bank would be a “reliable and accurate tool for the investigation and prosecution of sex offenses . . . and violent offenses“.32
The State also claims that the DNA statute is a lawful exercise of the police power. It further argues that the statutory scheme is reasonably necessary for protection of the public health, safety, morals and general welfare because DNA testing is aimed at preventing and detecting crime; the statute is narrowly drawn and is substantially related to the evil sought to be cured; and the class of persons sought to be regulated — those convicted of violent offenses and sex offenses — is reasonably related to the legitimate object of the legisla-
The State further argues that nonconsensual extractions of blood to test alcohol content were allowed in Schmerber v. California and State v. Curran37 as a permissible exception to the warrant requirement and as “a reasonable test performed in a reasonable manner.”38 It argues that there is only one probable cause requirement for any such search and that the probable cause requirement in this case was satisfied when the arrest was made.39 It claims that, therefore, “the voluntariness of [the defendant‘s] consent is constitutionally irrelevant“,40 and speculates that the “surprising absence” of cases regarding postconviction blood extractions is due to the fact that there is no constitutional jeopardy at this stage of the proceedings. The State cites a treatise to support its claim that collection of nontestimonial evidence such as photographs, fingerprints, voice identification, and blood samples does not implicate the right to counsel or the right against self-incrimination and should not be
Neither Appellants nor the State has adequately addressed the search and seizure issue as it has developed in the cases. Appellants and respondent agree that nonconsensual extractions of blood constitute searches under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments, citing Schmerber and Skinner. Those cases concluded that the searches were not unconstitutional even though they were conducted without warrants.
The Court reasoned in Schmerber v. California45 that there was sufficient probable cause to draw a blood sample from a person who was hospitalized immediately after an automobile collision and who evidenced the odor from ingestion of alcohol, and that the warrant requirement was excused because alcohol dissipates from the body and, under the cir-
The State confuses the warrant requirement with the probable cause requirement when it asserts that the probable cause requirement was excused because the Court in Schmerber excused the warrant requirement. Contrary to that contention, the Court actually concluded that there was probable cause for the arrest, allowed the search as “an appropriate incident to petitioner‘s arrest“, and excused the warrant requirement.46
The State also cites Schmerber for the proposition that the extraction of blood was “an appropriate incident to petitioner‘s arrest.”47 It argues alternatively that probable cause was satisfied in this case because Appellants had already been arrested and the DNA testing was somehow “incident” to those arrests even though the blood samples were drawn months after the arrests. However, the State fails to note that in Schmerber the search was allowed without a warrant because there was probable cause to believe that evidence gathered in the search would aid in prosecuting the same crime for which probable cause existed in the first place. The blood samples from the searches in the cases now before us were not used to prevent or deter alcohol use by drivers nor to prosecute future uncommitted crimes. They were used solely for DNA identification of offenders after conviction and would not be considered “incident to arrest” under Schmerber.
In Skinner v. Railway Labor Executives’ Ass‘n48 the Court reasoned that when nonconsensual extractions of blood are performed without a warrant or individualized suspicion, the State must have “‘special needs’ beyond normal law enforcement that may justify departures from the usual warrant and probable-cause requirements.” In that case, the war-
Once the Court in Skinner found a “special need beyond normal law enforcement” for the blood testing, it concluded that the purpose of a warrant requirement is to protect privacy interests by assuring the person subject to a search that it is not a random or arbitrary act of government, that the intrusion is authorized by law and is narrowly limited, and that it provides a detached, neutral and objective determination by a magistrate that the intrusion is justified. The Court then declared that to require a warrant in that case would not further the traditional purposes of a warrant because of the standardized nature of the testing and the lack of facts for evaluation by a magistrate. The Court also cited Schmerber, stating that because drugs and alcohol dissipate from the body, requiring a warrant would frustrate the government‘s interest in the search. The Court also noted the government‘s reliance on private railroad companies to administer the tests as another reason for dispensing with a warrant.50
While a warrant, probable cause and individualized suspicion were not required, the Court in Skinner did require “special needs beyond normal law enforcement“, a showing that the search and testing was reasonable and a showing that a warrant would be impractical and would frustrate the government‘s interest. Emphasis was placed on the urgency of action immediately following a train accident. Neither
The State also cites National Treasury Employees Union v. Von Raab.51 Appellants do not cite it. In that case the Court allowed the government to test for drug use, without warrants or individualized suspicion, urine specimens of employees of the customs service. The Court cited the balancing factors in Skinner which weigh the privacy interests of persons subject to a search against the “special needs beyond normal law enforcement” of the government. The Court acknowledged the compelling interest of the government in deterring drug use among armed law enforcement officers who have responsibility for confiscating illegal drugs. The Court noted that the searches were not designed to serve the ordinary needs of law enforcement because, under the challenged statute, test results would not be used to prosecute employees; but instead the results would be used only to deter drug use among those eligible for promotion and to prevent promotion of employees who use drugs. The Court analyzed the goals and practicality of a warrant requirement and concluded that probable cause or individualized suspicion would not further those goals and would frustrate the government‘s efforts to deter drug use in the Customs Service. The Court also emphasized that Customs employees, as well as the railroad employees in Skinner, were aware that certain jobs required such testing.52 The Court required a compelling governmental interest which entailed a “special need beyond normal law enforcement” before dispensing with the warrant requirement.
None of those cases squarely applies to the facts in this case. In this case, the DNA blood tests are required after conviction. In Skinner and Von Raab the blood and urine tests were of persons who had not been charged with any offense. In this case, the statutory purpose of DNA testing is
The State claims that DNA testing is substantially similar to HIV testing and cites State v. Farmer53 for the proposition that compulsory testing “must be supported by a legitimate, compelling state interest” unless one of the statutory exceptions applies.54 The State incorrectly relies on Farmer because that case considered the First Amendment right to privacy which is not involved here. Under the Fourth Amendment search and seizure analysis, a reasonable expectation of privacy is considered.
The State also purports to incorporate by reference the entire privacy discussion in Jones v. Murray55 without further comment. Jones v. Murray, supra, is a
Jones v. Murray, supra, is factually similar to this case. The relevant distinctions are that (1) the Washington statute only requires DNA testing of convicted sex offenders and violent offenders, while the Virginia statute requires DNA testing of all felons; and (2) in this case, all the Appellants were arrested and convicted after the effective date of the statute, while in Jones v. Murray, supra, some prisoners had ex post facto claims.
On the one hand, the United States Court of Appeals opinion in Jones v. Murray, supra, did not use the “special needs”
analysis to conclude that a state interest in law enforcement will justify drawing blood from convicted persons without probable cause or individualized suspicion.59 That opinion did not require the government to have a need “beyond normal law enforcement“, but in not requiring it, the court diminished the privacy rights of convicted persons. On the other hand, the opinions of the District Court in Jones v. Murray, supra, and of the United States Supreme Court in Skinner and Von Raab allowed warrantless searches, but affirmed general privacy rights by requiring “special needs beyond normal law enforcement” for drawing blood from convicted persons without probable cause or individualized suspicion. We find this a better reasoned approach.Due Process
The State argues that the due process issue has been resolved in Breithaupt v. Abram.60 In that case the United States Supreme Court concluded that “a blood test taken by a skilled technician is not such ‘conduct that shocks the conscience,’ nor such a method of obtaining evidence that it offends a ‘sense of justice‘.”61 Those were the reasons the Court cited in Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165, 96 L. Ed. 183, 72 S. Ct. 205, 25 A.L.R.2d 1396 (1952) for concluding that stomach pumping without a warrant to obtain evidence violated due process.62 Under this due process analysis, the State is correct in asserting that Appellants must show that the procedure used in drawing their blood was unconstitutional and not, as Appellants claim, that the purpose for which their blood was drawn was unconstitutional.
Appellants claim that the DNA testing statute,
Equal Protection
Appellants claim that
Our first inquiry when an equal protection challenge is made is to identify the appropriate standard of judicial scrutiny.67 We then consider whether the statutory clas
“Equal protection of the laws under state and federal constitutions requires that persons similarly situated with respect to the legitimate purpose of the law receive like treatment.”71 The DNA testing statute only applies to persons who have committed “sex offenses” or “violent offenses“. The purpose of the statute is to investigate and prosecute sex offenses and violent offenses.72 There is a rational relationship between the interest of the government in law enforcement and the application of the statute to this class of persons.
Knowing, Intelligent and Voluntary Pleas
Appellants claim that they were not informed that a direct and immediate consequence of their pleas of “guilty” was that they must submit to DNA testing and that the evidence would be used against them in some future prosecution. They argue that it is a violation of due process to accept a plea of “guilty” without an affirmative showing that the plea
Appellants argue that because the procedure is a search and because the evidence will be used in future prosecutions, it is a direct, and not a collateral, consequence of their pleas.75 They quote the test for distinguishing between direct and collateral consequences of pleas: the distinction “turns on whether the result represents a definite, immediate and largely automatic effect on the range of the defendant‘s punishment“.76
The DNA statute mandates testing for all persons who fall within its purview. Its application is automatic. However, Appellants do not argue that they are being punished by the procedure itself. They confuse the procedure with the possible future consequences to them from use of evidence obtained from the testing. Possible future punishment is not a definite or immediate consequence of the testing.
Finally, Appellants cite revised CrR 4.2(g),77 which now provides that an accused person must be informed that a consequence of a plea of “guilty” for a sex offense or a violent
Where there is a claim of involuntariness of a plea, a procedure suggested by State v. Osborne79 as a solution under CrR 4.2(f) is for the court to allow withdrawal of the plea “whenever it appears that the withdrawal is necessary to correct a manifest injustice.” None of Appellants have attempted to withdraw their pleas of “guilty” nor have they claimed that withdrawing their pleas is necessary to correct a manifest injustice.
The State is correct in its assertion that the fact that Appellants were not told that DNA testing would be required as part of their sentences does not make their otherwise knowing, intelligent and voluntary pleas void for violation of due process.80
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The drawing of blood without a search warrant, probable cause or individualized suspicion has been allowed by federal and state cases. However, there are two distinct logical routes used by those courts to arrive at that conclusion. One route is to balance the limited privacy rights of convicted persons against a compelling governmental interest. The other route is to balance the general privacy right of persons to be free from unjustified governmental intrusion against
In Breithaupt v. Abram, supra, the United States Supreme Court concluded that the procedure used to draw blood is so routine that it does not violate due process when properly conducted.81 Appellants do not claim that the procedures used in these cases were improperly conducted.
In Spokane v. Douglass, supra, this court concluded that a statute may be challenged facially only where there is a First Amendment right at issue, and that in all other circumstances only the application of the statute may be challenged.82 Appellants do not have a First Amendment claim. Their facial attack upon the DNA statute is not well made.
The DNA statute requires application only of the “rational relationship” test because no liberty interest, suspect or semisuspect class, or fundamental right is involved in this case. Under equal protection analysis, there is a rational relationship between the DNA testing statute and law enforcement.
Appellants’ pleas were knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily made despite the fact that they were not informed of required DNA testing prior to entering their pleas. Such a requirement is only a collateral consequence of their pleas.83 They may not claim the benefit of CrR 4.2(g) because it became effective after they entered their pleas.84
We conclude that the DNA statute,
ANDERSEN, C.J., and BRACHTENBACH, DOLLIVER, DURHAM, and GUY, JJ., concur.
UTTER, J. (concurring) — While I concur in the judgment issued today, I write separately to express my understanding of the appropriate grounds for upholding nonconsensual DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing under
I
The fourth amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Over the past few years, however, the United States Supreme Court has recognized the existence of “‘special needs, beyond the normal need for law enforcement, [which] make the warrant and probable-cause requirement impracticable.‘” Griffin v. Wisconsin, 483 U.S. 868, 873, 97 L. Ed. 2d 709, 107 S. Ct. 3164 (1987) (quoting New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325, 351, 83 L. Ed. 2d 720, 105 S. Ct. 733 (1985) (Blackmun, J., concurring)). When such “special needs” exist, a reviewing court must “balance the governmental and privacy interests to assess the practicality of the warrant and probable-cause requirements in the particular context.” Railway Labor Executives’ Ass‘n, 489 U.S. at 619.
Employing “special needs” analysis, the Court has upheld warrantless and even suspicionless administrative searches in a variety of contexts. See, e.g., New Jersey v. T.L.O., supra (upholding school principal‘s search of student‘s handbag without probable cause); Griffin v. Wisconsin, supra (upholding warrantless search of probationer‘s home by probation officer); O‘Connor v. Ortega, 480 U.S. 709, 94 L. Ed. 2d 714, 107 S. Ct. 1492 (1987) (upholding hospital‘s warrantless search of doctor‘s workspace).
The precise application of “special needs” balancing has still not been fully elaborated by the Supreme Court. It seems to be unclear, for example, whether courts employing “special needs” are to balance the government‘s need to conduct a given search against an individual‘s privacy interest, or instead to balance the government‘s need to conduct the
One facet of “special needs” balancing which is clear is that it is not intended to be applied where the government‘s interest is limited to the normal need for law enforcement. The “special needs” test, as originally formulated by Justice Blackmun in T.L.O., 469 U.S. at 351, and as applied by the Court‘s decisions, indicates that “special needs” balancing is only relevant where the government‘s needs are not those associated with the “normal need for law enforcement“. See, e.g., Railway Labor Executives’ Ass‘n, 489 U.S. at 620-21 (drug testing upheld under “special needs” where purpose was not “the prosecution of employees, but rather ‘to prevent accidents and casualties in railroad operations . . . .‘“) (quoting
Because “special needs” is only relevant where the State‘s need is beyond that of ordinary law enforcement, it is not applicable to these cases. The State‘s interest in nonconsensual DNA testing of convicted sex and violent offenders is clearly related to the normal need for law enforcement. The purpose of the testing is to create a DNA databank, and the purpose of the databank is to assist in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses.
The legislature further finds that the accuracy of identification provided by this method is superior to that of any presently existing technique and recognizes the importance of this scientific breakthrough in providing a reliable and accurate tool for the investigation of sex offenses . . . and violent offenses . . . .
Laws of 1989, ch. 350, § 1, p. 1748. See also Laws of 1989, ch. 350, § 2, p. 1748 (DNA identification system established
I recognize that a Federal District Court in Virginia has applied “special needs” balancing to uphold a DNA testing scheme similar to
II
Since “special needs” should not apply, the DNA testing scheme adopted by the State must be analyzed under traditional principles of Fourth Amendment law. Under these prin
A
The State concedes, as it must, that nonconsensual blood extraction under
The United States Supreme Court has recognized a number of limited and carefully crafted exceptions to the general requirement of a warrant issued upon probable cause, exceptions which clearly apply to the criminal context. Such exceptions include searches incident to arrest, Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752, 23 L. Ed. 2d 685, 89 S. Ct. 2034 (1969), exigent circumstances (like the imminent destruction of evidence), Cupp v. Murphy, 412 U.S. 291, 36 L. Ed. 2d 900, 93 S. Ct. 2000 (1973), and fixed-point police stops of motorists on public highways, Michigan Dep‘t of State Police v. Sitz, 496 U.S. 444, 110 L. Ed. 2d 412, 110 S. Ct. 2481 (1990).
An exception to the warrant and probable cause requirements also exists for searches and seizures which involve only a minimal intrusion. The Court has applied this type of
The minimally intrusive quality of blood extraction has repeatedly been noted. See, e.g., Railway Labor Executives’ Ass‘n, 489 U.S. at 625; Winston v. Lee, 470 U.S. 753, 762, 84 L. Ed. 2d 662, 105 S. Ct. 1611 (1985) (“blood tests do not constitute an unduly extensive imposition on an individual‘s privacy and bodily integrity“). Since extraction under
It might appear that since a form of balancing occurs both under the minimally intrusive search exception and under “special needs“, it is a matter of judicial indifference which analysis applies. The choice of balancing tests, however, is critical. Because “special needs” is not limited to minimally intrusive searches or seizures, an extension of that analysis into the arena of criminal law enforcement could ultimately render the warrant requirement itself illusory. In order to prevent the extension of broad-gauged balancing tests into all corners of the Fourth Amendment, it is absolutely neces
B
I have concurred in the judgment of the majority in these cases because I am convinced that this balancing favors the constitutionality of
The nonconsensual extraction of blood and subsequent DNA testing for purposes of developing a DNA databank directly furthers these purposes. This court has affirmed the basic principle that such evidence may be admissible under certain circumstances to inculpate defendants. State v. Cauthron, 120 Wn. 2d 879, 899, 846 P.2d 502 (1993).90 DNA typing may also be useful in exculpating criminal defend
The final, and in my view, determinative consideration in conducting a minimally intrusive search balancing test is the privacy interests upon which the search in question intrudes.91 In these cases, the privacy interest is that of a convicted sex or violent offender in his or her identity. Under any form of analysis, this interest is minimal. It has been recognized that convicted persons, particularly those who are ultimately incarcerated, have a significantly diminished privacy interest. Bell v. Wolfish, 441 U.S. 520, 559-60, 60 L. Ed. 2d 447, 99 S. Ct. 1861 (1979); Hudson v. Palmer, 468 U.S. 517, 530, 82 L. Ed. 2d 393, 104 S. Ct. 3194 (1984).
Furthermore, such individuals have a particularly limited privacy interest in the mere fact of their identity. The analogy to fingerprinting is extremely persuasive, in that both DNA typing and fingerprinting impinge on similar privacy interests. While the Fourth Amendment does impose certain constraints upon the fingerprinting of free persons, Davis v. Mississippi, 394 U.S. 721, 727-28, 22 L. Ed. 2d 676, 89 S. Ct. 1394 (1969), the constitutionality of fingerprinting convicted persons, even accused persons, is unquestioned. See Jones v. Murray, 962 F.2d 302, 306-07 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 121 L. Ed. 2d 378, 113 S. Ct. 472 (1992). Since DNA typing is functionally equivalent to fingerprinting, noncon
Importantly, nonconsensual blood extraction and testing under
In sum, I believe the limited balancing mandated by the “minimally intrusive search” exception to the general warrant and probable cause requirements of the Fourth Amendment favors the constitutionality of nonconsensual blood extraction under
It is worth pointing out reasons I believe this approach, based on traditional Fourth Amendment principles, is superior to the “special needs” analysis adopted by the majority. First, the approach I have described here makes the constitutionality of
Second, this approach rests heavily on the close fit between the purposes of establishing the DNA database and the process by which the testing takes place. It would, therefore, not support the testing of the blood samples obtained for purposes other than establishing the DNA databank. As the Supreme Court has recognized, the testing of blood following extraction may constitute an independent search for purposes of the Fourth Amendment. See Railway Labor Executives’ Ass‘n, 489 U.S. at 616 (“ensuing chemical analysis of the sample . . . is a further invasion“); see also National Treasury Employees Union, 489 U.S. at 679. Were the blood samples extracted under
Lastly, a minimally intrusive search approach avoids the conceptual difficulty of applying a form of analysis which was developed in the context of administrative searches to the field of normal law enforcement. If we extend the broad scope of “special needs” balancing to the context of law enforcement, even the traditional requirement of a warrant issued upon probable cause may be subject to being balanced away when governmental needs appear strong enough. In upholding the DNA typing scheme established by the Legislature, we should emphatically reject the applicability of “special needs” analysis.
III
When determining the constitutionality of novel and potentially intrusive new forms of law enforcement such as nonconsensual blood testing for DNA typing, courts must exercise the greatest care not to inadvertently erode the precious guaranties of personal liberty embodied in the Fourth Amendment.
Almeida-Sanchez v. United States, 413 U.S. 266, 273, 37 L. Ed. 2d 596, 93 S. Ct. 2535 (1973). In my view, upholding
JOHNSON, J., concurs with UTTER, J.
[No. 59491-1. En Banc. August 19, 1993.]
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, Respondent, v. STEVE HALSTIEN, Petitioner.
Notes
“The legislature finds that recent developments in molecular biology and genetics have important applications for forensic science. It has been scientifically established that there is a unique pattern to the chemical structure of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contained in each cell of the human body. The process for identifying this pattern is called ‘DNA identification.’
“The legislature further finds that the accuracy of identification provided by this method is superior to that of any presently existing technique and recognizes the importance of the scientific breakthrough in providing a reliable and accurate tool for the investigation and prosecution of sex offenses as defined . . . [RCW 9.94A.030(29)] and violent offenses as defined . . . [RCW 9.94A.030(33)].” Laws of 1989, ch. 350, § 1.
“Voluntariness. The court shall not accept a plea of guilty, without first determining that it is made voluntarily, competently and with an understanding of the nature of the charge and the consequences of the plea. The court shall not enter a judgment upon a plea of guilty unless it is satisfied that there is a factual basis for the plea.”
“....
“6. IN CONSIDERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF MY GUILTY PLEA, I UNDERSTAND THAT:
“....
“(o) If this crime involves a sex offense or a violent offense, I will be required to provide a sample of my blood for purposes of DNA identification analysis. [If not applicable, this paragraph should be stricken and initialed by the defendant and the judge.]” CrR 4.2(g).
