National DNA database
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A National DNA database is a database of DNA samples against which law enforcement agencies can match suspect DNA. The first national database was set up by the United Kingdom in April 1995.
In England and Wales, anyone arrested on suspicion of a recordable offence must submit a DNA sample to the database, which is then kept on permanent record. In Scotland, the law is different and most people are removed from the database if they are acquitted. In Sweden, only criminals who have spent more than two years in prison are recorded. In Norway and Germany, court orders are required, and are only available, respectively, for serious offenders and for those convicted of certain offences and likely to reoffend. All 50 states in the USA keep profiles of violent offenders, and a few keep profiles of suspects. Portugal has plans to introduce a DNA database of its entire population [1]
[edit] See also
- UK National DNA Database
- Genetic fingerprinting
- LGC Forensics
- Forensic Science Service
- Combined DNA Index System (CODIS)
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