What Are The Pros And Cons Of Dna Databank

How would you feel about a DNA database having record of every man, woman and child in the United States? Many questions are raised on whether it is ethical to have, safe and beneficial. A national DNA database could help solve crimes, but it also allows for thousands of innocent people to be at risk. Many argue against having a DNA database and many are for a database. I am going to argue against having a national DNA database because it has potential of being hacked, it is a violation of individual rights and DNA is not 100% accurate.

The Southside Strangler: The Advent of DNA Exploration and Testing Forever Changed the Criminal Justice System

Human DNA is very similar to one another, but only about 0.1% is different from the next person. That 0.1% can tell a person’s eye color, hair color, and other physical features. DNA analyst are able to take a drop of blood, the size of a dime, and duplicate the number DNA found in that drop. With the ability to duplicate DNA, analysts can have a back-up, in the event a human error were to occur. Analyst can tell you exactly where your ancestors came from and the percentage that is still inside your DNA. DNA is a very powerful tool that can identify a murder if the individual left any blood, saliva, skin tissue, hair or semen. The education needed to be able make use of the DNA consists of a great deal of science classes.

Due to the uniqueness of DNA it has become a powerful tool in criminal investigations

DNA forensics can also narrow down suspect pools, exonerate innocent suspects, and link crimes together if the same DNA is found at both scenes. However, without existing suspects, a DNA profile cannot direct an investigation because current knowledge of genotype-phenotype relation is too vague for DNA phenotyping. For example, a profile from a first time offender that has no match in any database may give the information that the criminal is a left handed male of medium stature with red hair and freckles. It would be impossible to interview every man who fits that description. However, with available suspects, DNA forensics has many advantages over other forms of evidence. One is the longevity of DNA. Although it will deteriorate if exposed to sunlight, it can remain intact for centuries under proper conditions (Sachs, 2004). Because DNA is so durable, investigators can reopen old cases to reexamine evidence.

DNA is considered an individuals genetic fingerprint, thus it is exclusive to each and every individual. Since this exclusivity exists, DNA is a tool used for identification purposes. It has been utilized for investigations of serious crimes, identification of individuals killed in mass disasters, wars and paternity uncertainties1. Since the inception of the use of DNA in the 1980’s thousands of criminals have been caught and prosecuted with the help of DNA evidence2. Additionally, countless victims of mass disasters have been identified through DNA and returned to their loved ones. Although, there are various benefits to employing DNA it does not come without a sundry of ethical and legal concerns. The ethical concerns that have presented themselves are questions involving scientific reliability, DNA evidence in court, human rights, and finally the other uses of the DNA database.

Should Federal Agents be allowed to collect DNA from anyone arrested? This is a controversial issue. In my opinion, DNA is a very powerful and useful tool because many sex crimes go unsolved because of lack of evidence, but if federal agents can look in a database where DNA samples are stored and compare it to anyone who was arrested especially those who committed sex crimes more crimes would be solved. Many say DNA testing violates suspects rights under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. DNA testing has toppled the way federal agents gather evidence in various criminal cases, particularly assault and homicide and thus had an expansive effect on a lot of people past cases. In this paper I am going to address

He then goes on to acknowledge the use of DNA databases and how they work to apprehend repeat offenders. Hurst focuses on the South African Police Service and their need for an expansion of their DNA database to help solve criminal cases. Hurst then goes on to explain the legislation that has been proposed that will ensure that all criminals arrested will be put into the national DNA database and that only registered medical practitioners will be allowed to receive and store the evidence. He concludes his article by explaining the risk of having the database run by a private

that has developed a major impact on the viewpoint of the criminal justice system. With DNA

So you ask, "How does this work to catch or release criminals?" DNA is very simple and small. Everyone has different patterns. Using certain machinery to detect a person's DNA solves these patterns. This evidence will create a future in crime scene investigation.

Currently, the DNA examined and recorded for forensic purposes does no reveal the most personal of these details but the technology for doing this exists or is likely to exist in the future. The ability to use DNA to make family connection is currently the main issue raised by the use of DNA technology in law enforcement, which is bound to result in futuristic invasion of privacy or possible harassment of those who happen to be family members of possible

DNA collection is a good thing not only can it help catch the person responsible for an illegal crime, but it can also clear up a suspect’s name. In the case of Maryland v. King on April 2009 Alonzo Jay King was charged for first and second degree assault for scarring a crowd of people with a shotgun, he was arrested and as a part of their booking procedure, they swabbed Alonzo Jay King for his DNA. Kings DNA sample later resulted to be a match of a DNA sample in the system “CODIS” of a rape victim by the name of Vonette W.’s Salisbury. Vonnette was raped on September 2003 but had not gotten justice for the crime against her since the only evidence was the DNA sample of the semen that was swabbed. No matches were found in the data base until Alonzo Jay King was arrested. By collecting DNA, it can help lead to an arrest of a suspect and to be able to close cases.

If the government had every U.S. citizen’s DNA, and could in fact determine this information, I have no doubt it would be abused. This furthers my stance that a database like this should not be created or allowed.

Analytical laboratories from Indiana found that DNA arrestee laws could annually save the state $20 million in judicial and law enforcement expenses alone (Taking). This amount is found when factoring in the amount of crime that would be prevented if such laws passed. Researchers argue that criminals most often tend to be repeat offenders and with the DNA arrestee laws, each felony conviction would prevent an average of 7-8 crimes (Taking). Equally important, each conviction would potentially have a fiscal benefit of approximately $13,000 (Taking). Even though it may seem that the additional tests, which will be needed after DNA arrestee laws are put into effect, will cost the taxpayers, it will actually save them money in the end. Instead of having to pay for all of the additional investigations for crimes committed by repeat offenders, they will only have to pay for the first couple prior to the criminal being

Department of Justice. Today DNA testing is used regularly to convict criminals as fingerprints have in the past. The Department of Justice states that in 1998, the FBI created the National DNA Index System (NDIS), which currently links 42 states. Today there are genetic profiles for more than one million criminals stored in this database, and soon all 50 states are expected to participate in the NDIS. That is a great example of an effective use of DNA Fingerprinting and security.