149k views
4 votes
What is the ACLU concerned about regarding CODIS?

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The ACLU's concerns about CODIS revolve around privacy, racial profiling, and Fifth Amendment rights, due to the expansion of criteria for DNA collection, potential misuse of genetic information, and lack of safeguards against self-incrimination and the right to counsel.

Step-by-step explanation:

The ACLU is concerned about the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and its potential impact on privacy and civil liberties. They are worried about the broadening of criteria for whose DNA can be collected and stored in CODIS, which includes not only convicted criminals but also arrestees and, in some states, individuals who are merely detained but not charged or convicted of any crime.

This expansion raises concerns about racial profiling, given the discretionary power it affords to law enforcement officers, potentially leading to discriminatory practices akin to "Driving While Brown." Such profiling can undermine trust in law enforcement and infringe upon privacy rights. Moreover, the ACLU questions the potential for misuse of genetic information and the adequacy of safeguards against wrongful inclusions or the use of DNA evidence in ways that violate the Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination and the right to counsel during police interrogations.

User Mantish
by
7.5k points