DNA: Is it only used for good?

Almost all the road deputies and the investigators have been through some type of evidence processing and collection training over this last year. This was done in an effort to use every possible way we could to identify suspects when processing a crime scene.

One of the key factors that have helped with recent burglaries is the number of homes that are installing surveillance cameras. Having a crime caught on camera is very basic, what you see is what happened. Even when someone cannot be identified on video right away, it still gives us a much better lead than we would otherwise have.

The next best thing that helps when it comes to some burglaries is the lack of thinking some burglars put into their crime. Every time I think I've seen it all, I see something even more unbelievable! We recently were able to file charges on one burglary suspect because he decided to stop in the middle of a burglary and have a bowl of cereal, leaving us plenty of DNA to send to the crime lab. After learning of the many different ways to collect DNA from crime scenes, the deputy knew there was a very good possibility of getting a hit from this one. DNA can take longer than other items sent to the crime lab to process, but after some time we did get a response and sure enough, there was a match!

Each year we see more and more cases being processed with DNA as compared to latent finger prints, foot prints, and other types of evidence that can be collected at a crime scene. To law enforcement it is a great help and resource when fighting crime, but on the other hand it is almost scary the vast amount of DNA records being collected in databases and how easily they can be matched once the DNA is processed.

Currently people convicted of certain crimes must give a DNA sample to have on file along with their finger prints and photo. This isn't too concerning as long as it's convicted felons, but I fear the day may come when DNA is used for much more than tracking theses offenders.

I recently was at a conference where a vender showed me a new device they are experimenting with that simply requires you to touch a computer screen and it takes the fingerprint and DNA sample at the same time. A full set of prints and your DNA can be transferred into a database in a matter of minutes! This company has high hopes that someday kids can be processed at schools as part of a "safe child" program. But this would also keep their DNA on file forever and could be used in the name of justice later in life should one of those children commit a crime.

New technology can help with fighting crime and bring offenders to justice, but we must keep a watchful eye to make sure we are not giving up too much of our freedom in the name of safety or justice. I do not agree and would never support a nationwide effort to collect, store and have on file DNA of every person. I feel too much of our personal information is already in the hands of the government. The Sheriff's Office will use every resource available to solve crimes, but we will also not support an effort to store data on anyone who is not an offender under the criminal justice system.