The ethical, legal, and social issues arising from the use of DNA forensics have not been fully explored. This project aims to investigate the various positions on new and controversial issues surrounding DNA profiling and to educate policymakers so that they better understand privacy and civil liberty issues involved in the application of DNA technology to the criminal justice system. To these ends, a series of small workshops involving ethicists, lawyers, political and social scientists, forensic experts, defense lawyers and prosecutors, and representatives of prisoners and parolees, including members of the major ethnic groups represented in forensic DNA banks, will examine the issues. The project team will collect data, updating information on international laws and regulations and procedures in order to ground workshop discussions. Issues to be addressed include: (1) who should be included in forensic databases; (2) tissue collections as potential databases; (3) sample retention; (4) length of retention; (5) access to forensic DNA databanks; (6) """"""""partial matches,"""""""" and effects on relatives; (7) racial identification using DNA haplotype analysis; (8) resource allocation; (9) federal versus state roles; (10) role of medical personnel; (11) the """"""""autonomy of science;"""""""" (12) uses of samples in medical research; (13) behavioral genetic research; (14) informed consent for research; (15) commercialization; (16) use for epidemiological purposes; (17) fiduciary issues versus the common good; (18) use of DNA collected for identification in mass disasters; (19) national DNA identification cards. Workshop participants will produce position papers for publication in a special issue of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics (ASLME) Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, which, in addition to its regular subscribership, will be distributed to policymakers throughout the United States. Presentations will be placed on a website. In order to educate policymakers (especially state legislators), judges, and district attorneys, a national education symposium, in Williamsburg, VA, based on the workshop discussions, will conclude the project, with two scholarships offered to two policymakers from each state.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HG002836-03
Application #
6929045
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-ELSI-1 (90))
Program Officer
Mcewen, Jean
Project Start
2003-09-19
Project End
2006-07-31
Budget Start
2005-08-01
Budget End
2006-07-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$513,333
Indirect Cost
Name
American Soc of Law, Medicine & Ethics
Department
Type
DUNS #
079510863
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
Prottas, Jeffrey M; Noble, Alice A (2007) Use of forensic DNA evidence in prosecutors'offices. J Law Med Ethics 35:310-5
Andrews, Lori (2006) Who owns your body? A patient's perspective on Washington University v. Catalona. J Law Med Ethics 34:398-407
Smith, Michael E (2006) Let's make the DNA identification database as inclusive as possible. J Law Med Ethics 34:385-9
Bieber, Frederick R; Brenner, Charles H; Lazer, David (2006) Human genetics. Finding criminals through DNA of their relatives. Science 312:1315-6
Kaye, D H (2006) Who needs special needs? On the constitutionality of collecting DNA and other biometric data from arrestees. J Law Med Ethics 34:188-98
Etzioni, Amitai (2006) A communitarian approach: a viewpoint on the study of the legal, ethical and policy considerations raised by DNA tests and databases. J Law Med Ethics 34:214-21
Haimes, Erica (2006) Social and ethical issues in the use of familial searching in forensic investigations: insights from family and kinship studies. J Law Med Ethics 34:263-76
Bieber, Frederick R (2006) Turning base hits into earned runs: improving the effectiveness of forensic DNA data bank programs. J Law Med Ethics 34:222-33
Ossorio, Pilar N (2006) About face: forensic genetic testing for race and visible traits. J Law Med Ethics 34:277-92
Berger, Margaret A (2006) The impact of DNA exonerations on the criminal justice system. J Law Med Ethics 34:320-7

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