The FBI’s Combined DNA Index System ( CODIS) helps law enforcement develop investigative leads in cases where biological evidence is secured from a crime scene. Biological samples are matched against DNA profiles of people in the database, including convicted criminals and arrestees. State and local law enforcement officials have access to the system and can possibly link several similar crimes to a single perpetrator.
Write an essay on the ethics of using this system. In doing so, answer these questions: Should every arrestee have a DNA sample taken? Does CODIS amount to an undesirable invasion of individual privacy, or does it represent a positive advance in police investigations that generates benefits for society? What other technological advances in law enforcement raise ethical questions? Why do they raise ethical questions? Refer to this chapter’s “Technology and Law Enforcement” section for some guidance.
