Washington State Wants DNA From All Arrestees

An anonymous reader writes in to say that "Suspects arrested in cases as minor as shoplifting would have to give a DNA sample before they are even charged with a crime if a controversial proposal is approved by the Legislature. "It is good technology. It solves crimes," claims Don Pierce, executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Under the bill, authorities would supposedly destroy samples and DNA profiles from people who weren't charged, were found not guilty or whose convictions were overturned. Others believe that this is just another step in the process to build a national DNA database with everyone in it."

Comments

Re:i have a question:

[T-Ranger]

If someone breaks the law, they should be punished for it. Send criminals to jail.

Some crimes fall into a category where, I think, pretty much whatever government does, they will still happen. Serial killers, for example.

Other crimes are different. Street level drug dealing is a prime example. There are people addicted to drugs, there a new people wanting to try drugs. There is a demand for drugs. Arresting a drug dealer today, and putting him in jail does nothing to reduce the demand for his product. Someone else will quickly take his spot on the corner, as it were.

Street level dealers, at least, are generally from a poor, uneducated background. They deal drugs because (apparently) it looks like a better gig then anything else.

If _all_ that government does is arrest drug dealers, then nothing has been accomplished - except making lots of jobs for prison guards. There are still drug dealers on the street.

1 drug dealer is a criminal problem. 100 drug dealers is a social problem.

In this specific case, an alternative approach would focus on reducing demand for drugs. Treat drug addiction as a health care problem. (well, in the US that would mean having good health care, in general, but I digress). Further, make drug dealing a less appealing source of income, by encouraging better alternatives. Better schools means people getting jobs, and having better options for jobs - which means fewer people willing to be dealers.

Re:take your argument to its logical conclusion

[circletimessquare]

the solution is for an organization to weed out its corruption

simply because without that organization, the corruption would spread like wildfire in all segments of society

in other words, which is worse: an organization with some corruption, or no organization at all?

and yes, the abuses are isolated incidents. what do you believe? that the police are alien creatures of inscrutable agendas and secret allegiance and of an unwavering desire to abuse average citizens just for the hell of it? the police are human beings, like you and me. mostly doing a good, a few bad apples doing bad. you honeslty believe otherwise?