Law vastly increases DNA gathering during arrests

[ariesgem]

The Justice Department is finishing rules to allow a vast expansion of DNA gathering that will include most people arrested or detained by federal authorities, a move that would affect hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants each year, officials said.

The new forensic DNA sampling was authorized by Congress in a little-noticed amendment to a January 2006 renewal of the Violence Against Women Act, which provides protections and assistance for victims of sexual crimes.

The amendment permits DNA collecting from anyone under criminal arrest by federal authorities and also from illegal immigrants detained by federal agents--by far the largest group to be affected by the new law.

Over the last year, the Justice Department has been conducting an internal review and consulting with other agencies to prepare regulations to carry out the law.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0702050159feb05,1,675985.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[wakeme2008]

1. I hope this is not another Unfunded Mandate to the states

I can just see Bush telling the States they have to PAID for DNA testing for all traffic tickets. :grr:

[Eric J in MN]

2. It's for federal arrests. NT

NT

[OKNancy]

3. Kick

[Joanne98]

4. U.S. to Cast a Far Wider DNA Net

U.S. to Cast a Far Wider DNA Net

February 6, 2007

Julia Preston -- The New York Times Media Group

The U.S. Justice Department is finishing rules to allow a vast expansion of DNA gathering that will include samples from most people arrested or detained by the federal authorities, officials said. The move would affect hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants each year.

Congress authorized the new DNA sampling in a little-noticed amendment to a renewal in January 2006 of the Violence Against Women Act, which protects and assists victims of sexual crimes. The amendment permits DNA collecting from anyone under criminal arrest by the federal authorities, and also from illegal immigrants detained by federal agents - by far the largest group to be affected by the new law.

Over the past year, the Justice Department has been doing an internal review and consulting other agencies on how to carry out the law.

The new law has strong support from organizations of crime victims and some women's groups, who say it will help law enforcement officials identify sexual predators and detect dangerous criminals among illegal immigrants.

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/news/newsbyid.asp?id=55021&cat=Politics+News&more=%2Fpolitics%2F

The police state moves forward!

[psychopomp]

5. The way in which this was added as an addendum to a bill

is demonstrative of one of the failures of our law-making process here in the USA.

[originalpckelly]

6. Isn't this a violation of the 5th Amendment?

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

Whether being forced to give incriminating information about oneself or being forced to give up DNA without due process, this violates that Amendment.