Justice Department Set To Dramaticly Expand DNA Base

Most members of congress don't read the bills they vote on, but a small hidden amendment to the 2006 renewal of Violence Against Women Act includes a provision for DNA samples to be collected from anyone under arrest by any federal authorities for virtually any circumstance including illegal aliens held for deportation by immigration authorities.

When collecting DNA may become as routine as collecting fingerprints, it also allows government to collect information about physical diseases or mental illness from individuals. On the other hand many individuals have been freed prison including death row due to DNA evidence establishing their innocence from a crime.

As science progresses, DNA may even be used as a predictor by law enforcement that a person is "prone" towards certain criminal behavior without them actually committing a crime. This could lead to psychological profiles held by government which ignore free will that a person may not choose to behave in a criminal manner in later years even if they were arrested for a minor offense while young.

DNA is both very good and also raises some serious uncertainty as well. DNA certainly gives the government a far deeper personal profile than fingerprints do, and the public will have to decide what the limits to the use of this technology should be.