U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Democrats have shut down the government. Department of Justice websites are not currently regularly updated. Please refer to the Department of Justice’s contingency plan for more information.

Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court

How is a Suspect's DNA Obtained?

Home  |  Glossary  |  Resources  |  Help  |  Contact Us  |  Course Map
 

Photo of a police officer arresting a man
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (see reuse policy).
  • Secured from an arrestee or a convicted person under a law requiring such persons to provide DNA samples.
  • Seized during a suspect's arrest or detention.
  • By court order, such as a search warrant or grand jury subpoena. 1
  • By consent or from a sample left in a public place or crime scene.

Back Forward