Maryland Prohibits DNA Collection From Suspects Who Have Only Been Charged

A federal court of appeals ruled in July that collecting DNA samples for federal crimes doesn’t violate constitutional protections. The court ruled 8 to 6 that DNA information was just a 21st century version of fingerprinting. Since 1994, the FBI has been collecting DNA samples as part of a national database called CODIS. DNA found at crime scenes can be cross-referenced against DNA profiles in CODIS.

“Given the record in front of us today, we conclude that a DNA profile is used solely as an accurate, unique, identifying marker – in other words, as fingerprints for the 21st century,” wrote Circuit Judge Julio Fuentes in the majority opinion.

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