DNA systems in police stations
DNA systems in police stations can be used for a variety of purposes,
Identifying suspects: DNA samples can be collected from crime scenes and compared to DNA samples from suspects to determine if there is a match.
Tracking criminals: DNA samples can also be used to track criminals over time. if a criminal is arrested for a new crime, their DNA sample can be compared to DNA samples from previous crimes to determine if they are the same person. This can help police to link crimes together and to identify serial offenders.
Solving cold cases: if a crime was committed many years ago and there are no suspects, DNA evidence from the scene of the crime can be compared to DNA samples from a database of convicted criminals to see if there is a match.
DNA systems in police stations are a powerful tool that can be used to identify, track, and apprehend criminals.
Why was the legislation brought in?
The CrPI Act repealed the British-era Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920.
Cope was limited to collecting and recording finger impressions, footprint impressions and photographs of certain category.
The government said the new Act made provisions for the use of modern techniques to capture and record appropriate body measurements.
What is the role of the NCRB?
The central body has been entrusted with the task to store, process, share, disseminate and destroy records of measurements.
Impressions taken at any police station will be stored in a common database maintained by the NCRB.
The database could be accessed by authorised police and prison officials across the country.
The NCRB will prescribe the specifications of the equipment or devices to be used for taking measurements.
In digital and physical format, the method of handling and storing measurements by the State police in a format compatible with the NCRB database.
Police and prison officials have been authorised to take measurements.
What are the challenges?
When the Bill was being debated in Parliament, Opposition members argued that it violated fundamental rights.
With plans to include DNA samples and facial-recognition technology, questions arose about the protection of such data.
The rule states that unless a person is booked under prohibitory and preventive sections that are clubbed with other serious criminal charges, the measurements will not be stored in the system.
The onus of destruction and disposal of records of an individual from the central database.
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