A number of law enforcement officials have hailed the advent of “familial DNA searching” in which genetic material found at a crime scene resembles an existing profile but does not provide an exact match. Civil liberties advocates decry this new addition to DNA forensics as holding the potential for invading the privacy of innocent people.

At a National Institute of Justice Conference in June of 2011, both sides of the issue were presented. Mitch Morrisey, the Denver district attorney, followed by Steven R. Siegel, director of program development at the Denver DA’s office, describe the benefits perceived by some law enforcement officials.  Then Stephen Mercer, chief attorney for the forensics division of Baltimore’s Office of the Public Defender, goes on to delineate some of the drawbacks. A full transcript can be found on the National Institute of Justice Web site.

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• Familial Searching Pt. 1
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• Familial Searching Pt. 2
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2 Comments

1. 1. jwg666 05:39 PM 3/15/13

   Any police department that wants to see my DNA is more than welcome to it. They can wiretap my phone and put a camera in my bedroom. this article is more anti-science hysteria, like anti-GMO stuff and not vaccinating your kids. DNA evidence puts rapists and murderers in jail and exonerates innocent people. Get over the privacy nonsense

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2. 2. Andreia1974brasil 01:55 PM 3/20/13

   I totally agree with your comment and came here especially to read what people thought about this article, because I think that the ones who don´t have anything to worry about, wouldn´t worry about this DNA data and storage. What´s the problem with that? It seems to me that the ones who are so worried have anything to hide / lurke ! I can´t understand the fuss.

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