CLEVELAND — Ohio officials acknowledge that they may never know how many people were released from prison without having their DNA entered into databases that could help link them to crimes.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reports that that more than 300 inmates got out without submitting DNA samples in 2012 alone. And that includes only the ones who were in prison or on parole when officials began trying to figure out whose DNA was missing.

State officials began looking into it in 2011 when they learned that that DNA collected from convicted Cleveland serial killer and rapist Anthony Sowell was never entered into databases.

State law requires that DNA be collected from felons. Law enforcement officials say it is increasingly allowing them to solve more crimes.

First Published January 29, 2013, 3:17 p.m.