130 likes | 222 Views
Composition of offender databases. Jason R. Gilder August 16, 2008. Forensic Bioinformatics (www.bioforensics.com) gilder@bioforensics.com. Universal DNA database. Everyone has their DNA typed at birth Many more crimes solved Many more false DNA inclusions Many more false investigations.
E N D
Composition of offender databases Jason R. Gilder August 16, 2008 Forensic Bioinformatics (www.bioforensics.com) gilder@bioforensics.com
Universal DNA database • Everyone has their DNA typed at birth • Many more crimes solved • Many more false DNA inclusions • Many more false investigations
Genetic surveillance • Who is most likely to be targeted by a database search? • Fear of criminalizing the innocent • Familial searches
CODIS • COmbined DNA Index System • National: NDIS • State: SDIS - fewer restrictions • Local: LDIS - fewest restrictions • Convicted Offender Profiles in NDIS: 6,031,000 • Forensic Profiles in NDIS: 225,400 • More than 71,800 cold hits
Hints as to CODIS makeup • African Americans make up • 13% of the national population • 30% of people arrested • 41% of people in jail • 49% of people in prison
Felony convictions (2004) Drug offenses: 34% Property offenses: 29% Violent offenses: 18% Other offenses: 17% Weapon offenses: 3%
Racial disparity in drug convictions • Drug offenders admitted to state prison in 1996 • African Americans: 62.6% • Caucasians: 36.7% • Maryland and Illinois • African Americans: 90% • One third of states > 75%
Racial disparity in drug use • African American is 5x more likely to be charged with a drug crime
United Kingdom DNA Database • More than 4 million profiles • Percentage of the UK population providing samples: • 40% Black • 77% Young Black men • 13% Asian • 9% Caucasian
UK typing policy • All arrestees are typed • Begging • Being drunk and disorderly • Taking part in an illegal demonstration • minor acts of criminal damage • children kicking footballs • throwing a snowball.
Innocents in UK Database • One million innocent people • 100,000 children • 57% comprised of Black people
Possible solutions • Facilitate removal of profiles from database • Currently require court order for expungement • Remove people not convicted of a crime • Remove exonerated individuals • Perform a statistical analysis of the database