Justice Department is onto collectiing of DNA

[Guest guest]

The Justice Department is completing rules to allow the collection of DNA from most people arrested or detained by federal authorities, a vast expansion of DNA gathering that will include hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants, by far the largest group affected. 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. 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. The goal, justice officials said, is to make the practice of DNA sampling as routine as fingerprinting for anyone detained by federal agents, including illegal immigrants. Until now, federal authorities have taken DNA samples only from convicted felons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/washington/05dna.html?_r=1 & adxnnl=1 & oref=slogin & adxnnlx=1170791100-9myDPjDkbE5d//B9ZDPYIA