NCJ Number
188684
Journal
Gazette Volume: 62 Issue: 5/6 Dated: 2000 Pages: 21-28
Date Published
2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the DNA data bank maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Abstract
The DNA data bank maintained by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police includes the Convicted Offenders Index containing DNA profiles of offenders convicted of designated offenses that are processed only in the National DNA Data Bank in Ottawa; and the Crime Scene Index containing DNA profile data derived from evidence left at Canadian crime scenes. These latter data are first processed by operational forensic laboratories across Canada. The National DNA Data Bank is designed to help law enforcement agencies solve crime by linking crime scenes where no suspect has been identified; identifying new suspects; eliminating suspects where there is no match between crime scene DNA and the national DNA Data Bank; and determining if a serial offender is involved. The question of privacy has been addressed in four ways: (1) Scientific Processes (DNA analysis examines only a small segment of the DNA blueprint and, apart from the ability to identify gender, there is no known link to physical or medical attributes); (2) Methodology (genetic and personal information are separated and access to data linking the two is controlled); (3) Physical Parameters (unauthorized persons cannot enter the Data Bank to view or retrieve data); and (4) Risk (there are specific criminal penalties for unauthorized use of DNA profile data or the samples themselves). In addition, the DNA Data Bank is subject to auditing by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at any time. Figures