[teeman8r]

i would argue that fingerprints taken to be compared to crime scene evidence would violate the fifth amendment of self incrimination... court orders for dna samples and fingerprints with judges approval and no records kept after exoneration to be permitted, but fishing expeditions are arguably tools of tyrants.

[hunter112]

The protections against self-incrimination apply to written or verbal self-incrimination. They arise from the use of torture to compel individuals to falsely testify against themselves. Physical evidence, whether in the form of fingerprints, DNA, or any other scientific method, cannot be altered by torture, or threats.

I have been somewhat persuaded by an argument made earlier in the thread that DNA evidence has potential other uses besides criminal identification. Only the very strongest of safeguards should be followed in the use of DNA records.

I fear the battle will be lost in the long run on DNA, it is impossible to put a genie back in its bottle, when technology comes up with a way of finding new knowledge. It may lead to universal health care as a means of keeping insurance companies and employers from discriminating against people based on what their genetic profiles show "might" happen to them. I just hope that the eventual system is decided by a 70% Republican Congress, with a Republican President.