DOJ to expand DNA database

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“The Justice Department is completing rules to allow the collection of DNA from most people arrested or detained by federal authorities, a vast expansion of DNA gathering that will include hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, by far the largest group affected,” according to the NYT. The law that allows this was sneaked in via the Violence Against Women Act renewal last year. It allows DNA sampling of anyone arrested where previously only those convicted where sampled.

The only hint at a justification offered by supporters in the article is the story of Angel Resendiz, and illegal immigrant and serial killer who was arrested and deported 17 times during his 15-person rape and murder spree. The implication seems to be that if we had had such a database, then when Resendiz was arrested, his DNA would have been cross-referenced and matched to DNA taken from a crime scene. If that’s the rationale, then wouldn’t it be better to mandate DNA sampling of everyone? “Hey, that’s not a bad idea,” I can hear half the country say.

Feb 5, 2007 | Comment | Tags: , ,

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