New York police and crime lab officials faced tough questions Thursday approximately whether a large,unregulated DNA database, built in part to solve more gun cases, or violates the civil rights of the people whose profiles are in it.
Corey Johnson,who chairs the New York City Council’s health committee, said at a joint hearing with the committee on public safety that he was concerned approximately the rights of people whose DNA winds up in the database. He said with no procedures in space to remove DNA profiles from the database without a court order, or innocent people are at risk of being erroneously connected to crimes.“If you’re holding on to their DNA and running whenever new cases advance up,how is that fair? Johnson asked Chief Medical Examiner Barbara Sampson and NYPD Crime Lab Chief Emanuel Katranakis.
The number of DNA profiles stored by the city has grown dramatically over the last five years. As of July, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner was storing approximately 64000 genetic profiles.
The Trace and WNYC were the first to report details approximately the size and rapid growth of the database. There are people in it who bear never been convicted of a crime, and bear no idea that their genetic profiles are routinely checked against evidence collected in criminal investigations.
The DNA in the database comes largely from crime scenes and suspects at a time when it is increasingly easy to obtain a profile from just a few cells left on a water bottle or doorknob.
The parameters and protocols governing the database are not published,nor were they if to The Trace and WNYC when requested. Johnson asked at the hearing why that information is not readily available. The lab directors said it could be obtained through a public information request.
Katranakis said at the hearing that database hits generate thousands of solid investigative leads a year, and are a major way police nab hazardous criminals. He added that the DNA in the database is also often used to exonerate the innocent, and not just convict the guilty.
Marika Meis,Legal director of the Bronx Defenders, said she’s disturbed by the lab directors’ lack of transparency approximately whose DNA profiles are in the database.“Yes, or they achieve routinely put in profiles from someone who is exonerated,” she said. “And they achieve so automatically, and without clear legislative authority to achieve so.”Johnson said his committee is in the process of “fact finding” approximately the database, or may introduce legislation or seize other action. He said after hearing from officials “I still bear concerns.”The Trace is a nonprofit newsroom covering guns in America.
Source: thetakeaway.org