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DNA Collection From Prisoner Constitutional
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the collection of DNA Samples from felons pursuant to a state statute does not violate the Fourth Amendment. This action, filed by a Texas prisoner, sought damages and injunctive relief, including deletion of his DNA sample from the state database. The district court dismissed the action as frivolous.
The Fifth Circuit said it was following the decision of every circuit court to consider this issue, and therefore, upheld the DNA collection. The Court also affirmed the district court's dismissal of the prisoner's claim that his due process rights were violated by refusing to expunge false information from his prison record that resulted in denial of parole, as the court found the claim does not involve violation of a constitutional right. The judgment of the district court was affirmed. See: Valesquez v. Woods, 329 F. 3d 420 5th cir. 2003).
The Fifth Circuit said it was following the decision of every circuit court to consider this issue, and therefore, upheld the DNA collection. The Court also affirmed the district court's dismissal of the prisoner's claim that his due process rights were violated by refusing to expunge false information from his prison record that resulted in denial of parole, as the court found the claim does not involve violation of a constitutional right. The judgment of the district court was affirmed. See: Valesquez v. Woods, 329 F. 3d 420 5th cir. 2003).
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Related legal case
Valesquez v. Woods
| Year | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 329 F3d. 420 (5th Cir. 2003). |
| Level | Court of Appeals |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 0 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |
329 F.3d 420
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Thelonious VELASQUEZ, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
S.O. WOODS, Chairman of Classification; Emily K. Tinsley, Unit Chief of
Classification; John Baines, Director of Nurses; Donald Gatlin, ACP II;
Norma Southern, Unit Grievance Investigator; Vay Enders, Medical Records
Supervisor; M. Snelgrooes, Unit Parole Counselor; Deborah Taylor, Lab Tech,
Defendants-Appellees.
No. 02-11251
Summary Calendar.
May 8, 2003.
Prisoner brought civil rights action challenging the collection of DNA sample by prison officials for registration in a DNA database pursuant to Texas law. Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint as frivolous. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Clinton E. Averitte, United States Magistrate Judge, dismissed the claims and prisoner appealed. The Court of Appeals held that: (1) collection of DNA sample from prisoner did not violate prisoner's Fourth Amendment rights, and (2) officials did not violate prisoner's due process rights by refusing to expunge false information from his prison record.
Affirmed.
*421 Thelonious Velasquez, Huntsville, TX, pro se.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, SMITH and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Thelonious Velasquez filed a civil rights action challenging the collection of a DNA sample by prison officials for registration in a DNA database pursuant to TEX. GOVT. CODE § 411.148. Velasquez contended that the determination that he fell within the scope of the statute was based upon erroneous information in his prison records. Velasquez contended that the refusal by the defendants to correct his records had resulted in the denial of his release on parole. Velasquez sought damages and injunctive relief, including the deletion of his DNA sample from the state database.
Velasquez consented to entry of judgment by the magistrate judge. The magistrate judge concluded that Velasquez had failed to allege a violation of a constitutional right. The magistrate judge dismissed the civil rights complaint as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § § 1915A & 1915(e)(2), and 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1). The magistrate judge dismissed any habeas claims asserted in the complaint without prejudice. Velasquez gave timely notice of his appeal.
We review the magistrate judge's dismissal of a complaint as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) for an abuse of discretion. See Harper v. Showers, 174 F.3d 716, 718 & n. 3 (5th Cir.1999). The standard of review of dismissals under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1) is de novo. See Ruiz v. United States, 160 F.3d 273, 275 (5th Cir.1998). Because the magistrate judge referred to all three statutes in dismissing Velasquez' claims, we review the issues raised on appeal de novo.
Velasquez contends that the compelled collection of a DNA sample from him pursuant to state statute violated his rights under the Fourth Amendment. Every circuit court to consider this issue has held that the collection of DNA samples from felons pursuant to similar statutes does not violate the Fourth Amendment. See Shaffer v. Saffle, 148 F.3d 1180, 1181 (10th Cir.1998) ( "while obtaining DNA samples implicates Fourth Amendment concerns, it is reasonable in light of an inmate's diminished privacy rights, the minimal intrusion involved, and the legitimate government interest in using DNA to investigate and prosecute crimes"); Rise v. Oregon, 59 F.3d 1556, 1559-62 (9th Cir.1995) (same); Jones v. Murray, 962 F.2d 302, 306-08 (4th Cir.1992) (same); see also Roe v. Marcotte, 193 F.3d 72, 78-82 (2d Cir.1999) (compelled DNA testing valid under "special needs" exception to warrant requirement). In light of these persuasive authorities, we hold that the magistrate judge did not err in dismissing this claim as frivolous.
Velasquez contends also that the defendants violated his right to due process *422 by refusing to expunge false information from his prison record. The magistrate judge did not err in concluding that this claim does not involve a violation of a constitutional right. See Johnson v. Rodriguez, 110 F.3d 299, 308 & n. 13 (5th Cir.1997). The judgment is
AFFIRMED.
329 F.3d 420
END OF DOCUMENT
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Thelonious VELASQUEZ, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
S.O. WOODS, Chairman of Classification; Emily K. Tinsley, Unit Chief of
Classification; John Baines, Director of Nurses; Donald Gatlin, ACP II;
Norma Southern, Unit Grievance Investigator; Vay Enders, Medical Records
Supervisor; M. Snelgrooes, Unit Parole Counselor; Deborah Taylor, Lab Tech,
Defendants-Appellees.
No. 02-11251
Summary Calendar.
May 8, 2003.
Prisoner brought civil rights action challenging the collection of DNA sample by prison officials for registration in a DNA database pursuant to Texas law. Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint as frivolous. The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Clinton E. Averitte, United States Magistrate Judge, dismissed the claims and prisoner appealed. The Court of Appeals held that: (1) collection of DNA sample from prisoner did not violate prisoner's Fourth Amendment rights, and (2) officials did not violate prisoner's due process rights by refusing to expunge false information from his prison record.
Affirmed.
*421 Thelonious Velasquez, Huntsville, TX, pro se.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Before HIGGINBOTHAM, SMITH and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Thelonious Velasquez filed a civil rights action challenging the collection of a DNA sample by prison officials for registration in a DNA database pursuant to TEX. GOVT. CODE § 411.148. Velasquez contended that the determination that he fell within the scope of the statute was based upon erroneous information in his prison records. Velasquez contended that the refusal by the defendants to correct his records had resulted in the denial of his release on parole. Velasquez sought damages and injunctive relief, including the deletion of his DNA sample from the state database.
Velasquez consented to entry of judgment by the magistrate judge. The magistrate judge concluded that Velasquez had failed to allege a violation of a constitutional right. The magistrate judge dismissed the civil rights complaint as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § § 1915A & 1915(e)(2), and 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1). The magistrate judge dismissed any habeas claims asserted in the complaint without prejudice. Velasquez gave timely notice of his appeal.
We review the magistrate judge's dismissal of a complaint as frivolous pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B)(i) for an abuse of discretion. See Harper v. Showers, 174 F.3d 716, 718 & n. 3 (5th Cir.1999). The standard of review of dismissals under 28 U.S.C. § 1915A and 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(c)(1) is de novo. See Ruiz v. United States, 160 F.3d 273, 275 (5th Cir.1998). Because the magistrate judge referred to all three statutes in dismissing Velasquez' claims, we review the issues raised on appeal de novo.
Velasquez contends that the compelled collection of a DNA sample from him pursuant to state statute violated his rights under the Fourth Amendment. Every circuit court to consider this issue has held that the collection of DNA samples from felons pursuant to similar statutes does not violate the Fourth Amendment. See Shaffer v. Saffle, 148 F.3d 1180, 1181 (10th Cir.1998) ( "while obtaining DNA samples implicates Fourth Amendment concerns, it is reasonable in light of an inmate's diminished privacy rights, the minimal intrusion involved, and the legitimate government interest in using DNA to investigate and prosecute crimes"); Rise v. Oregon, 59 F.3d 1556, 1559-62 (9th Cir.1995) (same); Jones v. Murray, 962 F.2d 302, 306-08 (4th Cir.1992) (same); see also Roe v. Marcotte, 193 F.3d 72, 78-82 (2d Cir.1999) (compelled DNA testing valid under "special needs" exception to warrant requirement). In light of these persuasive authorities, we hold that the magistrate judge did not err in dismissing this claim as frivolous.
Velasquez contends also that the defendants violated his right to due process *422 by refusing to expunge false information from his prison record. The magistrate judge did not err in concluding that this claim does not involve a violation of a constitutional right. See Johnson v. Rodriguez, 110 F.3d 299, 308 & n. 13 (5th Cir.1997). The judgment is
AFFIRMED.
329 F.3d 420
END OF DOCUMENT