Aggregated News

COLUMBIA — South Carolina’s law enforcement agency will soon collect DNA samples from people when they’re arrested for a felony – rather than post-conviction – four years after legislators passed a law requiring the state’s DNA database to expand.

A $10 million budget boost to the State Law Enforcement Division makes it possible, in a year that will also bring the fastest ramp-up ever to the agency’s workforce.

The 2012-13 budget, which took effect in July, calls for SLED to hire nearly 90 people: 49 agents; eight forensic scientists for the DNA lab; a dozen people each to manage its computers and criminal records database; and seven assistants.

That increases SLED’s ranks by nearly 20 percent. Still, its workforce and budget remain below the 2008 high, when the Great Recession led to deep budget cuts.

SLED Chief Mark Keel said his agency has never before tried to hire so many people in a single year, but he’s grateful for the boost.

“I never dreamed this year that we would be as successful as we were in the Legislature,” said Keel...