Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour signed SB 2709 into law yesterday. The bill mandates that the state preserve DNA evidence and conduct DNA testing on biological evidence.

Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, co-author and proponent of the bill, said the reason for the bill is self-explanatory.

"It provides evidence for folks convicted of felonies to prove their innocence, and it will help improve evidence collection to catch the real criminals," Blount told the Jackson Free Press last week.

Read the bill here.