{ "id": "R41800", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "R", "number": "R41800", "active": true, "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov, EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "summary": null, "typeId": "R", "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R41800", "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "type": "CRS Report", "retrieved": "2022-05-17T04:03:39.706819", "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "id": "R41800_23_2022-04-18", "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R41800/23", "sha1": "5706c78c158799136eb2b2eda62f3772957aba03", "filename": "files/2022-04-18_R41800_5706c78c158799136eb2b2eda62f3772957aba03.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2022-04-18_R41800_5706c78c158799136eb2b2eda62f3772957aba03.html" } ], "active": true, "title": "The Use of DNA by the Criminal Justice System and the Federal Role: Background, Current Law, and Grants", "date": "2022-04-18" }, { "summary": null, "typeId": "R", "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R41800", "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "type": "CRS Report", "retrieved": "2022-05-17T04:03:39.705516", "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "id": "R41800_21_2021-01-29", "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R41800/21", "sha1": "0140a94756f2d7d642ba438def5397f1cf6f1502", "filename": "files/2021-01-29_R41800_0140a94756f2d7d642ba438def5397f1cf6f1502.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2021-01-29_R41800_0140a94756f2d7d642ba438def5397f1cf6f1502.html" } ], "active": true, "title": "The Use of DNA by the Criminal Justice System and the Federal Role: Background, Current Law, and Grants", "date": "2021-01-29" }, { "summary": null, "typeId": "R", "sourceLink": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/details?prodcode=R41800", "source": "CRSReports.Congress.gov", "type": "CRS Report", "retrieved": "2022-05-17T04:03:39.704928", "source_dir": "crsreports.congress.gov", "id": "R41800_20_2020-12-23", "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "url": "https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R41800/20", "sha1": "88871cc890ec0de02aa4f5950c3c43d7853a03b7", "filename": "files/2020-12-23_R41800_88871cc890ec0de02aa4f5950c3c43d7853a03b7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/2020-12-23_R41800_88871cc890ec0de02aa4f5950c3c43d7853a03b7.html" } ], "active": true, "title": "The Use of DNA by the Criminal Justice System and the Federal Role: Background, Current Law, and Grants", "date": "2020-12-23" }, { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 585165, "date": "2018-01-24", "retrieved": "2018-09-13T22:47:06.599967", "title": "DNA Testing in Criminal Justice: Background, Current Law, and Grants", "summary": "Deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is the fundamental building block for an individual\u2019s entire genetic makeup. DNA is a powerful tool for law enforcement investigations because each person\u2019s DNA is different from that of every other individual (except for identical twins). DNA can be extracted from a number of sources, such as hair, bone, teeth, saliva, and blood. As early as the 1980s, states began enacting laws that required the collection of DNA samples from offenders convicted of certain sexual and other violent crimes. The samples are analyzed and their profiles entered into state databases. In the late 1980s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Laboratory convened a working group of federal, state, and local forensic scientists to establish guidelines for the use of forensic DNA analysis in laboratories. The group proposed guidelines that are the basis of current national quality assurance standards, and it urged the creation of a national DNA database. The criminal justice community began to utilize DNA analyses more often in criminal investigations and trials, and in 1994, Congress enacted legislation to authorize the creation of a national DNA database.\nFederal law (34 U.S.C \u00a712592(a)) authorizes the FBI to operate and maintain a national DNA database where DNA profiles generated from samples collected from people under applicable legal authority and samples collected at crime scenes can be compared to generate leads in criminal investigations. Statutory provisions also authorize the collection of DNA samples from federal offenders and arrestees, District of Columbia offenders, and military offenders. State laws dictate which convicted offenders, and in some states arrestees, will have profiles entered into state DNA databases, while federal law dictates the scope of the national database. Increasing awareness of the power of DNA to solve crimes has resulted in increased demand for DNA analysis, which has resulted in a backlog of casework. Some jurisdictions have started to use their DNA databases for familial searching, which involves using offender profiles to identify relatives who might be perpetrators of crimes. In addition to solving crimes, DNA analysis can also help exonerate people incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.\nCongress has authorized several grant programs to provide assistance to state and local governments for forensic sciences. Many of the programs focus on providing state and local governments with funding to reduce the backlog of forensic and convicted offender DNA samples waiting to be processed and entered into the national database. 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The criminal justice community began to utilize DNA analyses more often in criminal investigations and trials, and in 1994 Congress enacted legislation to authorize the creation of a national DNA database.\nFederal law (42 U.S.C \u00a714132(a)) authorizes the FBI to operate and maintain a national DNA database where DNA profiles generated from samples collected from people under applicable legal authority and samples collected at crime scenes can be compared to generate leads in criminal investigations. Statutory provisions also authorize the collection of DNA samples from federal offenders and arrestees, District of Columbia offenders, and military offenders. State laws dictate which convicted offenders, and sometimes people arrested for crimes, will have profiles entered into state DNA databases, while federal law dictates the scope of the national database. Increasing awareness of the power of DNA to solve crimes has resulted in increased demand for DNA analysis, which has resulted in a backlog of casework. Some jurisdictions have started to use their DNA databases for familial searching, which involves using offender profiles to identify relatives who might be perpetrators of crimes. In addition to solving crimes, DNA analysis can help exonerate people incarcerated for crimes they did not commit.\nCongress has authorized several grant programs to provide assistance to state and local governments for forensic sciences. Many of the programs focus on providing state and local governments with funding to reduce the backlog of forensic and convicted offender DNA samples waiting to be processed and entered into the national database. 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It also reviews current statutory law on collecting DNA samples, sharing DNA profiles generated from those samples, and providing access to post-conviction DNA testing. The report also includes a summary of grant programs authorized by Congress to assist state and local governments with reducing DNA backlogs, provide post-conviction DNA testing, and promote new technology in the field. It also reviews select issues Congress might consider should it legislate or conduct oversight in this area.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140109_R41800_d560da04f60544c88f75cb79d3157d028c557361.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140109_R41800_d560da04f60544c88f75cb79d3157d028c557361.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Criminal law", "name": "Criminal law" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Criminal justice", "name": "Criminal justice" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "DNA", "name": "DNA" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "DNA fingerprints", "name": "DNA fingerprints" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462876/", "id": "R41800_2012Dec06", "date": "2012-12-06", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "DNA Testing in Criminal Justice: Background, Current Law, Grants, and Issues", "summary": "This report provides an overview of how DNA is used to investigate crimes and help protect the innocent. It also reviews current statutory law on collecting DNA samples, sharing DNA profiles generated from those samples, and providing access to post-conviction DNA testing. 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