Legal Question in Criminal Law in Massachusetts
In RE: Criminal Law. Someone I know is in a Massachusets jail for violation of probation stemming from a 1993 violation of parole. His charges are automobile related. He is being told they want to take a DNA swab from him for purposes of checking data banks to see if he is a match to anything they have on record. This prisoner is a Jehova Witness and does not want his blood taken. They are threatening that if he doesn't voluntarily cooperate with this, it may have an effect on his current sentence time, suggesting it may add time or result in refusal to allow him his eligibility for parole in 5 months.
Any ideas on this prisoners rights or what resource I could use to find any information or statutes in this regard?
Thank you!
Sharn
1 Answer from Attorneys
I believe the state's interests overcome the religious preferences in this instance.