Bills
| 3.23.22

Should U.S. Police Start Using Rapid DNA Testing? (H.R. 510)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 510?

(Updated March 22, 2018)

This bill was enacted on August 18, 2017

This bill, known as the Rapid DNA Act, would look to increase the speed at which law enforcement collects DNA. It would do so by allowing police officers to collect DNA evidence with automated DNA collection systems in law enforcement facilities like jails and prisons. 

"Rapid" DNA analysis — where this bill gets its name — can be done in "a machine the size of a large desktop printer that can unravel your genetic code in the time it takes to watch a movie." Once a DNA profile is created, the machine can check it against a database — then report if and where there is a match. 

Law enforcement officials in Arizona, Florida, and South Carolina have already started employing this technology, and it has been tested out in China, Russia, and Australia.

Argument in favor

DNA evidence has become a critical part of the judicial process. But it takes a long time to process. Rapid DNA analysis will help law enforcement officers do their job faster, and can help clear an innocent person's good name in only 2 hours time.

Argument opposed

Without the oversight of trained scientists, these tests could easily be misused and pose a threat to civil liberties. Not to mention, these machines threaten the job security of technicians in DNA testing labs.

Impact

People detained by law enforcement, police officers, DNA testing labs, lab technician job security, manufacturers of Rapid DNA analysis systems, local and state courts.

Cost of H.R. 510

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced this bill to set up a system enabling law enforcement officials to use Rapid DNA tests to reduce DNA evidence backlogs. In a press release, Sensenbrenner said:

"Rapid DNA technology is an effective tool for law enforcement that will help quickly identify arrestees and offenders and reduce the overwhelming backlog in forensic DNA analysis. It will make crime fighting efforts more efficient and help prevent future crimes from occurring, which saves time and taxpayer dollars."
This legislation has the support of 11 bipartisan cosponsors in the House, including six Democrats and five Republicans.

Of Note: This bill amends DNA Identification Act of 1994, which, under the watch of the Director of the FBI, created a DNA database of people that have been charged with crimes. It exclusively covers forensic laboratories where DNA testing had previously occurred. 

Rapid DNA analysis does not work on rape kits, of which there is a huge backlog at police stations nationwide. Current machines cannot discern individual DNA strands when they are commingled in bodily fluids.


Media:

(Photo Credit: Flickr user West Midlands Police)