Should I submit a DNA sample?

[gkisystems]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Wisconsin.

Shortly after robbing a restaurant at gun point, the armed criminal (or criminals) went running through my neighborhood with his loot while being chased by both the victims and a police dog. In his travels, he climbed a fence and went through my backyard, leaving some of the stolen money within a bank-like deposit bag.

Not knowing what was in my yard, I picked it up, look at it, found money inside, counted it, and called the police. In the process, I got my DNA and fingerprints all over the evidence.

The PD found similar money bags in the neighborhood, but still has no suspects. However, they want me to submit to a DNA test to exclude my DNA from their investigation. I do not like the idea of having my personal identity stored in a government database for potentially my lifetime...especially when I'm not a criminal.

Do I have to submit my DNA? Would you suggest that I do? Are there any risks involved?

 

[HighwayMan]

Providing DNA would expedite the criminal investigation - failure to co-operate will mean that you will be a suspect until the real perpetrator gets caught - if he does. You might be in the spotlight for a long time.

I highly doubt that your DNA profile would be stored anywhere. It would be compared to the criminal's and if you're not a match that would be the end of it.

You may want to speak to an attorney to calm your fears.

 

[gkisystems]

Providing DNA would expedite the criminal investigation - failure to co-operate will mean that you will be a suspect until the real perpetrator gets caught - if he does. You might be in the spotlight for a long time.

I highly doubt that your DNA profile would be stored anywhere. It would be compared to the criminal's and if you're not a match that would be the end of it.

You may want to speak to an attorney to calm your fears.

I'm not sure they could compare it to the criminal because he has not been caught. I just dont like the idea of my DNA being in a computer for religious reasons and I don't want it to come back and haunt me 30 years later in my life.

 

[justalayman]

do they even have DNA evidence on the bags?

Sounds like a scene out of CSI Miami.

I would contact a lawyer and I would not give any DNA or fingerprints until my lawyer said I had to. Sorry but there are DNA databases just as there are fingerprint databases.

 

[Banned_Princess]

What are your religious reasons?

Have you done other crimes you may be scared might come up?

The DNA their comparing it to may be from anywhere along the route, and maybe their looking for the trail.

 

[tranquility]

I agree with all the previous posters.

Personally, I would not agree to a request for DNA. (Certainly, I'd agree to all demands.) It will go in a database on which you have no control over how it will be used, today or in the future.

Refuse. If you want, an attorney seems like he might be useful.

 

[gkisystems]

The purpose of the PD asking for my DNA is "to rule me out as a possible suspect."

I have a clean record with zero crimes. I am interested in helping the investigation to get the criminals off the street and out of my neighborhood, but I am not interested in handling over my DNA to a distrusting government.

 

[Zigner]

The purpose of the PD asking for my DNA is "to rule me out as a possible suspect."

I have a clean record with zero crimes. I am interested in helping the investigation to get the criminals off the street and out of my neighborhood, but I am not interested in handling over my DNA to a distrusting government.

Oh please. I, personally, don't see what the problem is. You leave your DNA in dozens of places every single day...you MUST know that, if they want it, they will get it...even if you don't know about it

 

[justalayman]

The purpose of the PD asking for my DNA is "to rule me out as a possible suspect."

I have a clean record with zero crimes. I am interested in helping the investigation to get the criminals off the street and out of my neighborhood, but I am not interested in handling over my DNA to a distrusting government.

then, as the government spent millions of dollars trying to get the message across:


Just say NO!.

 

[medic5]

actually i understand the fear of giving your dna sample.

read this
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/science/18dna.html

im not saying this will ever happen to you just wanted to let you know that dna fabrication is possible

also if that didnt scare you enough read this
Some DNA Evidence To Be Excluded In Busey Case - Albuquerque News Story - KOAT Albuquerque

it seems to me that once they get your dna they can force fit it to reach a result they want to find you guilty.

so dont cave in even though it seems like you will look guilty, because like chris rock says "id rather look guilty at the mall than innocent in jail"

lol take care

 

[StevenJ_420Law]

no good deed will go unpunished.

 

[tranquility]

I agree, again, with the previous posters and reiterate, it will go into a database and in the government's possession forever.

 

[Zigner]

I agree, again, with the previous posters and reiterate, it will go into a database and in the government's possession forever.

And I would have to respond...so what? Unless you've lived your entire life totally "off the grid", they already have oodles and oodles of info on you anyway.

 

[KingFahad]

I'm really doubting the validity of your post.
To many variables would/should exclude you -as a suspect - if this story is true.

That being said my answer would be "NO".
If the authorities want it they can get a warrant.
Or have you followed- waiting you to throw away a coke can, put out a cigarette butt, spit on the sidewalk....etc etc..

 

[tranquility]

A number of issues. One might be having the DNA markings which are 1 in a million to a crime scene is one thing when they have a suspect and are comparing, and quite another when there is a database of hundred million.

Another might be how the government will discriminate once more knowledge of certain markers become known. (Aka, you seem like the type who would beat his wife.) How much information about you is encoded in your genes? (Of, course, not "you" but a statistical representation of you.)

Other areas of concern relating to Freedom, man:

SSRN-Big Bio-Brother is Here: Wanting, Taking and Keeping Your DNA by R.E. Rodrigues

SSRN-Rounding Up the Usual Suspects: A Logical and Legal Analysis of DNA Trawling Cases by David Kaye

SSRN-DNA Typing: A Technology of Fear by Sujatha Byravan

SSRN-Which Likelihood Ratio? (Comment on 'Why the Effect of Prior Odds Should Accompany the Likelihood Ratio When Reporting DNA Evidence', by Ronald Meester and Marjan Sjerps) by A. P. Dawid

SSRN-Probationers, Parolees and DNA Collection: Is this 'Justice for All'? by Jessica Fender

SSRN-'Genetic Surveillance' - The Bogeyman Response to Familial DNA Investigations by Jules Epstein

SSRN-Something to Hide: DNA, Surveillance and Self-Incrimination by Jeremy Gans

SSRN-Two Fallacies About DNA Data Banks for Law Enforcement by David Kaye

SSRN-Inferences, Arguments, and Second Generation Forensic Evidence by Erin Murphy