Topic: Dna Database

The Rapid DNA Act stands out as a significant piece of legislation signed during the Trump administration's first year. This law permits police stations to use printer-sized machines to collect DNA from individuals upon arrest, regardless of whether they are eventually convicted of a crime. These genetic profiles are then uploaded to the FBI database, raising concerns about the permanent collection of sensitive biological data from innocent citizens.

The national DNA database is expanding from a collection of violent offenders to include individuals arrested for minor misdemeanors. This "finders keepers" policy allows the government to retain the genetic code of innocent people who were never convicted of a crime. The lack of media coverage on this expansion has prevented a public debate on the ethics of universal genetic surveillance.

Paulides explains how government agencies use the "missing presumed dead" classification to remove individuals from active public records after a certain period. This administrative practice complicates the tracking of long-term missing persons. The CanAm Missing Project has assisted the National Institute of Justice by providing documentation on cold cases that were previously lost or omitted from national DNA databases.