Minutes; 2003, Jan-Nov

              SRC APPROVED
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1 STATE RECORDS COMMITTEE MEETING ^±U*^
2 January 8,2003 v
3 STATE ARCHIVES BUILDING
4 SALT LAKE CITY, UT
5
6
7 Members Present: Cherie Willis, Citizen Representative, Committee Chair
8 Brian Winterowd, Private Sector Records Manager
9 Luann Adams, Political Subdivision Elected Official
10                                                Wilson Martin, Interim Director State History
ii Betsy Ross, Auditor's Designee
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13 Legal Counsel: Mark Burns, Attorney General's Office
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15 Others in Attendance:        Stephanie Griffith, Executive Secretary
16 Donna Morrison, Archives
17 Beverly A. Bluemel
18 Florin E. Bluemel
19 Jay W. Henry, State Crime Lab
2 0 J. Francis Valerga, State Crime Lab
21 Mark Tanner, Questar InfoComm
22 Darren Bluemel, petitioner by phone
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24 The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
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2 6 The first order of business was an appeal hearing between Darren Bluemel and the
27 Dept. of Public Safety, Bureau of Forensic Services.
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2 9 Darren Bluemel, petitioner gave his opening statements in which he asked for his DNA
3 0 profile that had been denied to him twice by the Bureau of Forensic Services. He stated
31 that he was not asking for any investigation material.
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3 3 J. Francis Valerga, representing the Bureau of Forensic Services, made his opening
34 statements in which he stated that giving this DNA information to Mr. Bluemel or any
3 5 other inmate, would perhaps motivate tampering with DNA evidence at a crime scene.
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3 7 Mr. Bluemel presented his arguments. He stated that in his case there was no
3 8 possibility of prejudice or tampering with any DNA evidence because he is presently
3 9 incarcerated. Also, he stated that he is only asking for the DNA information that was
4 0 taken from him after he was incarcerated not anything taken prior.
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4 2 Mr. Valerga presented the argument that the agency was not claiming that Mr. Bluemel
43 personally had the ability to tamper with a crime scene or DNA evidence, but that he
44 has access to others outside the prison who could tamper with a crime scene. Cherie
4 5 Willis, Committee Chair, asked Mr. Valerga what information is contained in a DNA
4 6 profile. Mr. Valerga replied that a DNA profile contains very technical information and it
4 7 cannot be read by just anyone. There are special technicians that read these profiles.
4 8 Also, Mr. Valerga stated that just because a DNA sample is taken from an inmate does