Don't Let the Justice Department Harvest DNA from Innocents
This is is an archived action alert, meaning that it is no longer relevant or worth acting on. It's listed here for reference only.
To make a real difference today, visit the Action Center.
An outrageous Justice Department proposal directs federal law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples from anyone they arrest. Speak out against this proposal that turns the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" on its head!
An outrageous Justice Department proposal directs federal law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples from anyone they arrest. This is a radical departure from current policies, which allow DNA samples to be collected only after an individual has been convicted of a crime. This new proposal threatens to swell the government's DNA database with the sensitive genetic information of innocent people -- Americans involved in peaceful political protests, for example.
The public comment period will end on Monday, May 19, so now's time to speak out against this proposal that turns the principle of "innocent until proven guilty" on its head!
Consider the following points for your comments to the Department of Justice:
- Innocent people do not belong in a criminal DNA database.
- DNA is not a mere fingerprint -- it contains sensitive medical information that should not be recklessly collected and stored by the government.
- "DNA profile matching" is inexact, and its accuracy varies wildly based on a number of factors. The bigger the database is, the greater the odds are that innocent people with be implicated for crimes they did not commit.[1]
- Allowing the collection of DNA samples by third-parties will drastically increase the incidence of errors and outright abuse of private genetic information.
More information:
- Los Angeles Times: "DNA matches aren't always a lock"
- Justice Department's Proposed DNA Collection Regulations
- AP: "Feds to collect DNA from every person they arrest"
- Noam Biale, Daily Kos: "Frogs for Genetic Privacy"
