Forensic DNA databases are a potentially powerful law enforcement tool, but may disproportionately target poor and dark-skinned wrongdoers, biotechnologically magnifying flaws in criminal justice systems. Read more
“It is one thing to require a DNA sample from someone convicted of crime and quite another to require DNA from someone arrested for a crime. The latter, civil rights advocates argue, is a bridge too far and unconstitutional.” Over th... Read more
A federal appeals court Thursday upheld a voter-approved measure requiring California authorities to take a DNA sample from every adult arrested on felony accusations in the Golden State. The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the cha... Read more
Crime scene investigators will get a major boost in the use of DNA evidence found at crime scenes. The Forensic Science Laboratory is acquiring new technology which will be used in identifying and prosecuting criminals. The Department of Justice... Read more
The Russian newspaper, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, writes that moving forward the DNA of most aggressive criminals will be stored in a special government registry. Every penitentiary will have special Ministry of Interior labs that will take blood sampl... Read more
The Council for Responsible Genetics (CRG) applauds Governor Patrick for signing and Representative John Fernandes and Senator Cynthia Creem for championing S.1987, an Act providing access to forensic and scientific analysis. This vital legislat... Read more
Chelsea State Representative Eugene L. O’Flaherty has led the House in passing a new bill that will give courts better access to DNA evidence as a way to avoid wrongful convictions. Last week the House passed the bill that provides courts access... Read more
Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants an “all crimes” DNA database for New York. That would authorize the police to take a DNA sample from every person convicted of any crime in our state, no matter how small. The governor should rethink this radi... Read more
New research suggests that unrelated individuals may be mistakenly identified as genetic family members due to inaccurate genetic assumptions. This is particularly relevant when considering familial searching: a new technique which extends foren... Read more
Welcome to the Forensic Genetics Policy Initiative, a global effort to enact human rights safeguards for forensic DNA databases. Read more