Prisoners’ expectations of the national forensic DNA database: Surveillance and reconfiguration of individual rights

Machado, Helena; Santos, Filipe; Silva, Susana

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.02.020

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…It is relevant to take into consideration that in another question of the questionnaire, more than one-third of the participants (36.0%) agreed with the statement "Any person should be in the criminal DNA database". The acceptance of the creation of a universal database was found in a study carried out in South Wales [29], and in a study with male prisoners in Portugal [35]. This relative support for the creation of a universal database may be explained by the citizen's passive compliance with the states' requirements for collecting diverse personal identification data [36].…”

Section: 5% Would Accept Inclusion Of Individual Genetic Profile Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“Would you accept having your DNA profile inserted in the National Forensic DNA database? Why?” Results of a questionnaire applied in Portugal

Machado

Silva

2014

Forensic Science International: Genetics

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The creation and expansion of forensic DNA databases might involve potential threats to the protection of a range of human rights. At the same time, such databases have social benefits. Based on data collected through an online questionnaire applied to 628 individuals in Portugal, this paper aims to analyze the citizens' willingness to donate voluntarily a sample for profiling and inclusion in the National Forensic DNA Database and the views underpinning such a decision. Nearly one-quarter of the respondents would indicate 'no', and this negative response increased significantly with age and education. The overriding willingness to accept the inclusion of the individual genetic profile indicates an acknowledgement of the investigative potential of forensic DNA technologies and a relegation of civil liberties and human rights to the background, owing to the perceived benefits of protecting both society and the individual from crime. This rationale is mostly expressed by the idea that all citizens should contribute to the expansion of the National Forensic DNA Database for reasons that range from the more abstract assumption that donating a sample for profiling would be helpful in fighting crime to the more concrete suggestion that everyone (criminals and non-criminals) should be in the database. The concerns with the risks of accepting the donation of a sample for genetic profiling and inclusion in the National Forensic DNA Database are mostly related to lack of control and insufficient or unclear regulations concerning safeguarding individuals' data and supervising the access and uses of genetic data. By providing an empirically-grounded understanding of the attitudes regarding willingness to donate voluntary a sample for profiling and inclusion in a National Forensic DNA Database, this study also considers the citizens' perceived benefits and risks of operating forensic DNA databases. These collective views might be useful for the formation of international common ethical standards for the development and governance of DNA databases in a framework in which the citizens' perspectives are taken into consideration.

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Section: 5% Would Accept Inclusion Of Individual Genetic Profile Imentioning

confidence: 99%

“Would you accept having your DNA profile inserted in the National Forensic DNA database? Why?” Results of a questionnaire applied in Portugal

Machado

Silva

2014

Forensic Science International: Genetics

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“…The Prüm regime thereby exacerbates the potentially oppressive elements of surveillance and renders wider groups of people vulnerable to becoming 'objects of surveillance and investigation because of the calculability of their criminal risks to others', as Lynch and McNally (2009: 284) eloquently put it (see also Machado et al 2010). On the other hand, however, the complex of surveillance systems inherent in the Prüm regime also empowers those who demand higher data protection standards, not only by highlighting the topic of data protection in the political and public domain as a valid concern in light of the increasing size and interlinking of databases, but also -and perhaps more importantly -by restricting the amount of personal identifying information that travels across borders.…”

Section: Situated Dis-empowerment: the Issue Of Data Protectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Prum Regime: Situated Dis/Empowerment in Transnational DNA Profile Exchange

Prainsack¹,

Toom²

2010

British Journal of Criminology

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“…After obtaining authorisation from the Portuguese General Board of Prison Services, 31 semistructured interviews, lasting 34 minutes on average, were conducted with inmates in three prisons for adult males in the north of Portugal between May and September 2009 by three interviewers, all duly trained in accordance with the objectives of the study [11, 14]. The interviewees were all male, since 94.5% of all prisoners in Portugal were male at the time the interviews were carried out, according to official statistics provided by the Portuguese General Board of Prison Services on 31 December 2009 [15].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Criminal Genomic Pragmatism: Prisoners' Representations of DNA Technology and Biosecurity

Machado

Silva

2012

Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology

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Background. Within the context of the use of DNA technology in crime investigation, biosecurity is perceived by different stakeholders according to their particular rationalities and interests. Very little is known about prisoners' perceptions and assessments of the uses of DNA technology in solving crime. Aim. To propose a conceptual model that serves to analyse and interpret prisoners' representations of DNA technology and biosecurity. Methods. A qualitative study using an interpretative approach based on 31 semi-structured tape-recorded interviews was carried out between May and September 2009, involving male inmates in three prisons located in the north of Portugal. The content analysis focused on the following topics: the meanings attributed to DNA and assessments of the risks and benefits of the uses of DNA technology and databasing in forensic applications. Results. DNA was described as a record of identity, an exceptional material, and a powerful biometric identifier. The interviewees believed that DNA can be planted to incriminate suspects. Convicted offenders argued for the need to extend the criteria for the inclusion of DNA profiles in forensic databases and to restrict the removal of profiles. Conclusions. The conceptual model entitled criminal genomic pragmatism allows for an understanding of the views of prison inmates regarding DNA technology and biosecurity.

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Prisoners’ expectations of the national forensic DNA database: Surveillance and reconfiguration of individual rights

Cited by 21 publications

References 19 publications

“Would you accept having your DNA profile inserted in the National Forensic DNA database? Why?” Results of a questionnaire applied in Portugal

“Would you accept having your DNA profile inserted in the National Forensic DNA database? Why?” Results of a questionnaire applied in Portugal

The Prum Regime: Situated Dis/Empowerment in Transnational DNA Profile Exchange

Criminal Genomic Pragmatism: Prisoners' Representations of DNA Technology and Biosecurity

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