via Tides project @C_G_S: #Police Balk At Submitting Their Own #DNA to Forensic Databases
For over two decades, local, state, and federal law enforcement have insatiably pursued the radical expansion of DNA databases. This is typically driven by two arguments. First, that having more profiles at their disposal increases the likelihood of catching perpetrators and, secondly, that DNA forensics’ technical sophistication ensures that innocent people have no reason to worry about being falsely accused. These demands and assurances by law enforcement have played a pivotal role in drastically shifting public policies. When first brought into practice in the 1980s and 90s, DNA databases typically only included individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder and rape. Now, a number of jurisdictions are including individuals merely arrested for certain crimes…
