DNA Technology in Forensic Science (1992) / Chapter Skim
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5 FORENSIC DNA DATABANKS AND PRIVACY OF INFORMATION
5 FORENSIC DNA DATABANKS AND PRIVACY OF INFORMATION
Pages 111-130
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From page 111... ...
Investigators could compare DNA profiles of biological evidence samples with a databank to search for suspects. In many respects, the situation is analogous to that of latent fingerprints.
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From page 112... ...
Consequently, the development of DNA databanks is tied to the standardization of methods. A national DNA profile databank can function only if participating laboratories agree on standardized methods.
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From page 113... ...
In short, ordinary fingerprints and DNA profiles differ substantially in ways that bear on the creation and design of a national DNA profile databank. CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY Confidentiality and security of DNA-related information are especially important and difficult issues, because we are in the midst of two extraordi
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From page 114... ...
In general, the committee feels that DNA profile databanks should avoid the use of loci associated with traits or diseases. That avoidance is the best guarantee against misuse of such information.
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From page 115... ...
Much has been written on statistical databank systems and associated security issues.3 Guidelines for release of DNA samples and disclosure of DNA typing information must be designed to safeguard the rights of persons who, for one reason or another, get involved in a DNA typing (see Chapter 7 for further discussion) without burdening law-enforcement agencies and civil investigative authorities with unnecessarily protective policies.
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From page 116... ...
However, the committee urges all states to be systematic in defining authorized uses of information in DNA databanks. METHODOLOGICAL STANDARDIZATION Because of the incompatibility between DNA typing methods, federal, state, and local laboratories that wish to use a national DNA profile databank must all adopt a single standardized method for analyzing samplesboth databank specimens and evidence specimens.
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From page 117... ...
The cost of RFLP analysis can be estimated from fees charged by private laboratories: about $100-lS0/sample.6 Thus, a single DNA profile can cost about $120170, and constructing 10,000 DNA profiles could cost $1.2-1.7 million. However, DNA typing databanks do not require highly sophisticated or expensive computer hardware and software.
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From page 118... ...
It is helpful to consider six categories of people. Samples from Convicted Offenders DNA profile databanks containing profiles of criminal offenders must be justified on the basis of the likelihood of recidivism.
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From page 119... ...
What fraction would end in rearrest and reconviction if a DNA profile databank were available? The first question obviously is impossible to answer explicitly.
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From page 120... ...
and of offenders convicted of violent sex crimes. Such a databank would provide law enforcement with a powerful tool in linking sexual-assault cases through DNA profiles and tracking the activities of serial rapists.
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From page 121... ...
It might be useful to have additional cross-referenced information accessible at the national level, including modus operandi or other attributes for correlation as part of an investigation. Samples from Members of the General Population Some observers have suggested that a DNA profile databank should not be limited to criminals, but should aim, at least in the long term, to store DNA profiles from the entire general public.
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From page 122... ...
SAMPLE STORAGE Another difficult issue is the storage and maintenance of DNA samples themselves (or any reusable products of the typing process) , as opposed to DNA profiles.
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From page 123... ...
This type of limited access can be achieved either administratively or physically; it is a simple and inexpensive means of safeguarding sensitive information and is common practice in many national security situations. For example, secure computers are virtually never connected to unsecured computers at national defense laboratories; when newspaper headlines make statements that computers at these facilities have been breached, it has been the case that the computers were unsecured and not connected to the secure computers.
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From page 124... ...
Preparations should be begun now to have additional loci characterized and available for general use before any DNA profile databank comes into common use. STATUS OF DATABANK DEVELOPMENT There have already been state and federal efforts toward the creation of DNA profile databanks.
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From page 125... ...
The investigative databanks would contain DNA profiles of body fluids from the scenes of crimes for which suspects have been identified, convicted offenders, and bodies, body parts, and bone fragments of unidentified persons. In the proposed national DNA profile databank system, individual law-enforcement agencies (forensic laboratories)
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From page 126... ...
Databank requirements involve determining what a system must accomplish; there are typically many alternative implementation details that can accomplish the same goals. The experimental protocols used to derive DNA profiles will probably continue to change as the associated technologies continue to mature.
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From page 127... ...
Data flow starts with forensic laboratories in various states that provide raw data. Data reduction process provides information to national information resource databank.
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From page 128... ...
· DNA profile databanks should be accessible only to legally authorized persons and should be stored in a secure information resource. · Legal policy concerning access and use of both DNA samples and DNA databank information should be established before widespread prolif eration of samples and information repositories.
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From page 129... ...
· Although the committee endorses the concept of a limited national DNA profile databank, we doubt that existing RFLP-based technology provides a wise long-term foundation for such a databank. We expect current methods to be replaced soon with techniques that are simpler, easier to automate, and less expensive but incompatible with existing DNA profiles.
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From page 130... ...
The outlook for forensic DNA testing in the United States. Crime Lab Digest.
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