New York To Collect More DNA for State Database
by Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei
Posted May 14, 2007 in DNA and the Law
New York State is set to start collecting more DNA for its state database . As of May 9, 2007, almost 250,000 offender samples have been collected and approved for analysis. Under Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s proposal, DNA will be collected from:
- People found guilty of crimes at the misdemeanor level or higher, including those who were convicted of minor drug offenses, harassment, or credit card theft.
- All prisoners in the state
- All parolees
- Everyone on probation
- Registered sex offenders
Not only is the DNA database expected to make it easier to nail the guilty, it’s also to serve the innocent who were wrongly accused. Prisoners and defendents who were previously not given court orders to have DNA evidence tested against their own, can now request one as well as ask that it be compared against the DNA database.
The UK has the largest national DNA database in the world. According to the Home Office, only 0.5% of people in the US have their DNA entered in a database compared to 5.2% of the UK population. Here’s one case study they cite to prove that DNA databases help solve crimes:
In Canterbury in 1988, an 11 year old and a nine year old girl were raped and indecently assaulted. In Derby in 2001, a shoplifter was arrested and a DNA sample taken. His DNA matched the 1998 crime scene samples. The offender pleaded guilty to the 1988 offences and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.
The question is - Does fear of a DNA database help deter crime as well?
The New York Times, May 14, 2007
Tags: new york, dna database, eliot spitzer, genetics, genes, dna, crime, law, criminals, genome
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I know I’m probably going to be horribly persecuted for saying this, but, I don’t really know how I feel about having DNA on record.
On one hand, the benefits are obvious. Help catch the guilty and keep the innocent free.
On the other hand, I can’t ignore the weighty feeling it gives me of being controlled.
I know the positives far outweigh the negatives right now, though.
Alicia, You’re not going to be persecuted! And if anyone tries, they’ll have me to answer to.
I think you’ve voiced the number one concern most people have about the increasing use of DNA technology - privacy. How do we know our DNA won’t be used in other ways that could affect our ability to get a job, health insurance, or other freedoms in our lives? This is why it’s important for everyone to understand the basics of DNA and to know how it can be used. Even CSI is useful in this respect. If criminals know that it’s easier to catch them, maybe they’ll think twice.
I am not sure that collection of DNA will be a deterrent. Most criminals are not that smart (some are) to be thinking about the consequences or even be aware that they are leaving DNA at a crime scene. Secondly, in a “crime of passion” the actor(s) are usually irrational to begin with, and will not be thinking about possibly getting caught, going to jail, going to trail and being presented with evidence against them.
I do think it is a good idea to collect the DNA from criminals, especially sexual predators and the like. I am concerned about privacy as you stated above. In the wrong hands, DNA information could potentially ruin someone’s ability to earn a living, get insurance, buy a home, etc.
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