New DNA Test Can ID Race, But It's Unpopular With Law Enforcement
- added January 2, 2008
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- abbym0308
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- Earth and Science (12439)
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A molecular biologist has figured out how to identify a person's race through examining their DNA, and the test has been used to identify and capture criminals. To me, that sounds like an excellent step in the right direction, ensuring that innocent people don't get locked up, and that the real criminals are identified and sentenced more quickly. But the company who carries out the test may not be around much longer because it's not very popular with police. Why??
"Part of the problem is cost - basic tests run more than $1,000. But the real issue? DNAWitness touches on race and racial profiling, a subject with such a tortured history that people can't countenance the existence of the technology, even if they don't understand how it works."
But is this really racial profiling? I would say not. To me, it's a better way of identifying the suspect they are looking for. If you have a witness who remembers the criminal as being male, but cannot recall their race, or is mistaken, why not be able to rely on a DNA test to know for sure? I'm really surprised that there is so much resistance to this technology by the very people we rely on to identify suspects and catch the guilty ones.
"Part of the problem is cost - basic tests run more than $1,000. But the real issue? DNAWitness touches on race and racial profiling, a subject with such a tortured history that people can't countenance the existence of the technology, even if they don't understand how it works."
But is this really racial profiling? I would say not. To me, it's a better way of identifying the suspect they are looking for. If you have a witness who remembers the criminal as being male, but cannot recall their race, or is mistaken, why not be able to rely on a DNA test to know for sure? I'm really surprised that there is so much resistance to this technology by the very people we rely on to identify suspects and catch the guilty ones.
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WTF does this have to do with racial profiling?
Racial profiling is when a person is suspected ONLY because of their race.
This is simply a DNA test that can determine race. What does one have to do with the other?? -
I totally agree. I hope that the police can get passed that and use this to their advantage. Otherwise it's like they are going backwards. Particularly frustrating is the final quote in this story by the prosecutor who "says he dislikes anything that implies we don't all "bleed the same blood." He adds, "If I could push a button and make this technology disappear, I would."
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