Alli Conley
Westcot Section 029
November 29, 2014
Unit 3 Paper
DNA databases are becoming increasingly common throughout the world because they
are extremely beneficial to law enforcement. DNA databases are databases where DNA is stored
so that law enforcement can access the DNA and use it to solve crimes. Most countries are
starting to adopt national DNA databases because they are very helpful. All DNA databases
attempt to solve crimes and limit the number of crimes that can be committed in the future. Even
though DNA databases have the same goal, they have different ways of accomplishing this goal.
Some databases collect DNA from all criminals like the English database, where others only
collect from certain crimes (Wallace S26; Kazemian 50). All the countries want the databases to
be the most effective, but they have different ways of accomplishing this. I believe my solution is
the most beneficial because it makes the databases the most effective. My solution is to include
DNA from individuals arrested for a recordable offense, include stains in the database, and keep
the DNA and stains forever because this would help solve the greatest number of crimes.
DNA databases are new in the world of crime solving because DNA was very recently
discovered. Despite this, DNA databases are extremely common in the world. Most countries use
them and the European Union wants to set up the first international DNA database to help solve
crimes (Schneider 232). The issue of how to set up this database is difficult because every
European country has their databases set up differently. Some databases are set up to collect
DNA from all criminals or only criminals with some offenses; some databases include stains and
some do not, and most countries have different retention rates. Despite the differences, the
databases should be the most effective to their countries because they are being used to solve
crimes and there is a civic responsibility to solve as many crimes as possible. The maximum
number of crimes should be prevented, that’s why my solution involves collecting DNA from all
arrested individuals, keeping the DNA forever, and including stains in the database.
This issue is important because DNA databases are becoming increasingly common and
the argument on how to set it up is an issue that many countries are currently debating. Some
countries, like America, have adapted their databases over time to include DNA from a larger
variety of criminals (Kazemian 50). Some countries are setting up DNA databases for the first
time and most countries have different retention rates or rules regarding whose DNA can be
collected. I think this is an important issue because the use of information surrounding criminal
investigations is crucial to solving the crime itself. Some countries may develop better
techniques for catching criminals and I think these countries should be followed by other
countries. The most important issue is that crime is reduced by these databases and I think my
solution offers the best way to reduce crime.
I think an effective national database would include collecting DNA from all criminals
that are arrested with a recordable offense. There is evidence that small crimes lead to larger
crimes and that collecting DNA even for the smallest offense would help prevent future crimes
(Kazemian 55). This means that by collecting DNA from a criminal that has committed a very
small crime, there is a chance they will commit another crime and they will more easily be
caught because their DNA is already on file. This is crucial to setting up a DNA database
because databases wish to eliminate the greatest number of crimes and if collection from petty
offenses can help catch these criminals that commit larger crimes the database is successful. In
England they have started collecting DNA from all recordable offenses that people commit, even
if they are not convicted, and it is reducing the crime rate (Wallace S26). I think if something is
working for another country or for someone else we should copy them because it is working for
them. The English database has been able to collect many samples from most of the crime
population and solve many cases because of this. I think this is why collection from all criminals
is efficient. The US used to collect samples only from sexual offenders, but has since shifted to
collecting DNA from burglaries and other cases (Kazemian 50). By collecting more samples
from a wider range of cases, there have been more cases that have been solved in the US
(Kazemian 50). This is proof that collecting DNA from more people is beneficial in solving more
crimes.
I also think national DNA databases should have infinite retention. Infinite retention is
when a DNA database can hold on to the DNA infinitely (McCartney 177). This idea of infinite
retention is suitable because the DNA can be used forever to help determine a criminal’s
guiltiness or innocence. If a case needs to be reopened for any reason, the DNA will still be there
to commit or exonerate a person. If DNA isn’t kept infinitely and a case does need to be
reopened, there would need to be evidence to recommit a person and DNA evidence couldn’t be
applied because it would be collected with a bias instead of proper evidence. After long periods
of time, physical evidence isn’t traced easily, so it would be almost impossible to commit a
person or prove a person’s innocence after time has passed. This is where the DNA that is
already in the database comes in handy: DNA isn’t being recollected due to bias or probable
cause but it can still be used in a case. DNA databases are very helpful in the sense that they
help commit guilty criminals, but they also help exonerate innocent people. This is helpful to the
public because they can submit their DNA and it can be used to prove their innocence. If DNA is
unable to be kept forever to help solve cases, this reduces the efficiency of law enforcement
because they would have to redo a case instead of just using the DNA database if a case had to
be reopened. This directly goes against using the DNA databases because they are used to solve
crimes and continue solving crimes over time. Not having infinite retention does not help solve
crimes and defeats the purpose of having a DNA database.
I think stains should also be included in a database. Stains are found at crime scenes that
include human DNA from one or more people (Voegeli 731). In Switzerland, they used stains in
their DNA databases and this was helpful in connecting crimes or finding criminals (Voegeli
733). I think we should include stains in all DNA databases because it is beneficial in solving
crimes because it can catch a person and it can also link multiple crimes together. In Switzerland
they were very successful in getting hits in the database with stains (Voegeli 733). If it was
beneficial for the Swiss, I think all the DNA databases created should be based off of this. It is
true that stains could not be included in the database, but fewer crimes would be solved and that
would defeat the purpose of the DNA database. Stains are extremely helpful because they can be
put in the database and not only find a person, but they can also link cases which is extremely
helpful to law enforcement. Stains can also help because a person might be put in the database
for something unrelated at a later date, and their DNA can be linked to a stain from a crime. This
can help solve more crimes, which is the whole point of having a DNA database. I think if a
DNA database is going to be created, it should solve the most crimes possible and stains can help
do this.
Databases are created to help solve crimes and I think my solution is the way to help
solve as many crimes as possible. By collecting DNA from the most people there is the greatest
chance of solving future crimes. Similarly, but keeping the DNA forever it can help commit
more criminals or exonerate more people which is beneficial to solving crimes. By including
stains in the database, there is a greater chance that a crime can be solved because it can be
linked to other crimes or DNA can be entered in the database later that may come back with a hit
to that stain. I think that by providing the most number of chances to catch a criminal the
database would be the most successful.
Sandel argues that every solution can either help the welfare, the individual, or be
virtuous (Sandel 6). The solution that I came up with is beneficial to society as a whole by
preventing crimes that would otherwise harm society. By preventing crimes, databases help
society as a whole because less people are getting harmed. I don’t think my solution is harmful to
the individual and that it is still virtuous. A criminal might be giving some of his rights away by
having his DNA collected, but the collection is helpful to the whole society. The criminal also
relinquishes some of their rights when they commit a crime. DNA collection is similar to
fingerprinting, just more high tech. I think the solution is also virtuous because it is helping to
solve crimes. It is helping the victims of crimes get closure and making the criminals serve their
time. This solution is therefore ethical by Sandel’s standards by argument of the general welfare,
but also by not destroying the other two arguments (6). The general welfare benefits because
more crimes are prevented by the DNA database collecting from criminals and using stains and
keeping the DNA forever. It is not robbing individuals of their rights unless they have already
lost their rights, and it is helping victims have closure for what has been done to them.
DNA databases are being widely disputed right now because defining how to set them up
is tricky. I think my solution of including all criminals DNA, having infinite retention, and
including stains is the most beneficial to society because it helps reduce the most crime. This
solution is also ethical by Sandel’s argument of general welfare. National DNA databases are
being created and changed in many different countries. Because of the ability to reduce crime
rates, it is obvious that databases should be set up to include DNA from all criminals, should
include stains, and the DNA should be infinitely retained. The best solution is the solution I have
posed because it will help solve as many crimes as possible, and reduce many crimes as well,
which keeps the public safe. National DNA databases should reduce and solve as many crimes as
possible while being the most beneficial to law enforcement.
Works Cited
Kazemian, Lila, Ken Pease, and David P. Farrington. “DNA Retention Policies: The Potential
Contribution of Criminal Career Research.” European Journal of Criminology 10.1177
(2011): 48-64. Sage Journals. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
McCartney, Carole. “The DNA Expansion Programme and Criminal Investigatoin.” Brit J.
Criminol 46 (2006): 175-192. Oxford Journal. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
Sandel, Michael J. Justice: What is the Right Thing to do? New York: Farrar, Straus, and
Giroux, 2009. Print.
Schneider, Peter M, and Peter D. Martin. “Criminal DNA databases: the European situation.”
Forensic Science International 119 (2001): 232-238. Science Direct. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
Voegeli, P, C. Haas, A. Kratzer, and W. Bär. “Evaluation of the 4-year test period of the Swiss
DNA Database.” International Congress Series 1288 (2006): 731-733. Science Direct.
Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
Wallace, Helen. “The UK National DNA Database.” European Molecular Biology Organization
reports 7 (2006): 26-30 NCBI. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.