U.S. Plans to Collect DNA From Every Federal Arrestee

Criminal Justice

U.S. Plans to Collect DNA From Every Federal Arrestee

Posted Apr 17, 2008, 08:01 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

The U.S. government is planning to expand its DNA database by collecting samples from anyone arrested for a federal crime and from many foreigners detained by federal authorities.

Currently, the federal government collects DNA only from those who are convicted of felonies. The new requirements would add an estimated 1.2 million samples a year to the database, report the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.).

Thirteen states already collect DNA from many arrestees. They are Alaska, Arizona, California, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

Those who are never convicted can petition to have their names removed from the database. The proposed federal rule will be published in the Federal Register in coming days, and a 30-day comment period will follow.

The government is acting under a law that permits it to expand its DNA testing. The FBI says the new program will help solve more crimes. Over the years, the federal database has produced 66,750 DNA matches in 67,285 investigations, the Post story says. “I think by any measure, the program has been a success," said Thomas Callaghan, head of the database.

But civil liberties advocates expressed concern. They say DNA samples should automatically be removed from the database when there is no conviction.

"Innocent people don't belong in a so-called criminal database," Tania Simoncelli of the American Civil Liberties Union told the Post. "We're crossing a line."

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