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All states have mandatory DNA collection laws enabling the collection of DNA samples from persons convicted of specific crimes. Generally, the courts have found no 4th Amendment violation because of the convicted defendant's diminished privacy rights, the minimal intrusion involved, and the legitimate government interest in using DNA to solve crimes.
Several other issues have an impact on the collection of DNA samples:
- The 5th Amendment – privilege against self-incrimination
- The 6th Amendment – right to counsel
- DNA dragnets or mass screening
- Arrestee DNA samples
Additional Online Courses
- What Every First Responding Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Collecting DNA Evidence at Property Crime Scenes
- DNA – A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook
- Crime Scene and DNA Basics
- Laboratory Safety Programs
- DNA Amplification
- Population Genetics and Statistics
- Non-STR DNA Markers: SNPs, Y-STRs, LCN and mtDNA
- Firearms Examiner Training
- Forensic DNA Education for Law Enforcement Decisionmakers
- What Every Investigator and Evidence Technician Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
- Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert
- Laboratory Orientation and Testing of Body Fluids and Tissues
- DNA Extraction and Quantitation
- STR Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony
- Español for Law Enforcement
- Amplified DNA Product Separation for Forensic Analysts