Government Dna Databases

Government DNA Databases and the Issues they Create

Bertha A Navarro

Roosevelt University

Senior Thesis PLS 399

Professor Gary K. Wolfe

Abstract

At birth, we receive an identity, a name and a birth certificate number. We are also assigned a social security number as a form of identification. The school we attend assigns us a number for identification. If we drive a car, we apply for a driver’s license. Throughout our lifetime, we receive many forms of identification. Our bank accounts, credit cards and library cards all identify us in one way or another. In today’s high tech world, privacy is nonexistent and we have ourselves to blame. We readily give out our basic information to various companies in exchange for services. However, when our genetic code is involved, a red flag goes up and we begin to wonder what issues arise with DNA profiling. This paper will address the issues created from the collecting, storing and expansion of DNA profiles contained in government DNA databases.

Government Databases and the Issue they Create

The Federal Bureau of Investigation incorporated DNA testing in 1988 and developed the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS, n.d), which contains the DNA records from national, state and local crime laboratories (Hays and Katsanis, 2008). Currently there are over 10 million offender profiles and 395,105 forensic profiles stored in “CODIS”. The use of the CODIS database has produced over 161,100 matches in more than 155,100 investigations (CODIS-NDIS, n.d.). Today, all 50 states incorporate DNA sampling into their penal code. It is a powerful tool used by law enforcement officers to solve current crimes and “cold case files.” Initially, DNA databases included only sex offenders and violent criminals. Today, government DNA databases include DNA samples and profiles from a larger group of individuals adding to the already large backlog of samples waiting to be profiled. Even though DNA databases prove to be a valuable tool...