Abstract
The collection, retention, and use of forensic DNA has led to the rapid development of associated law and criminal justice practices. In a little over twenty years, DNA evidence and the science and technology undergirding it have become highly valued instruments in solving crime, convicting criminals, and exonerating the innocent. Questions of admissibility have largely been resolved with the adoption of rigorous standards for DNA analysis. State legislatures and Congress have answered these developments with incremental expansion of DNA databases. From an intial focus on felony sex offenses in the 1990s, there are now over forty states that collect DNA samples from all felons, while four states and the federal government permit inclusion of DNA profiles from certain arrestees. There has been concern, however, that technological and legal developments have outpaced measured consideration of the ethical, legal and social implications of this growing reservoir of genetic information and its uses. This symposium is designed to fill that gap, providing a balanced assessment of current policies and practices as well as an invaluable source of guidance for the development of future policies. The articles in this symposium were commissioned from national and international experts who represent wide-ranging viewpoints and experiences. The topics they address include privacy, database expansion, racial ethnic justice, forensic science and use of DNA in the courtroom, DNA sample retention after profiling, and secondary uses of DNA samples. This edition also represents the first detailed exploration of a number of topics, including the ...