Pros and Cons of DNA Tests in Criminal Cases

Re “State Lends a Strong Hand to Crime-Fighting With DNA,” Nov. 9: I don’t have a problem with law enforcement collecting DNA samples from convicted felons. What I do have a problem with is collecting DNA from the many possibly innocent people who are arrested for a crime but never charged.

This opens a Pandora’s box regarding who is “arrest-able” by the police. Will they find probable cause where there is none simply to legally obtain a DNA sample from an individual? And to those who argue that you don’t have anything to worry about unless you’re guilty, think again. Once you’re in a DNA database, your DNA is subject to police crime lab “accidents” and mistakes. A simple mislabeling can lead to disastrous results.

Will Ray

Burbank

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Once again, the ACLU proves its contempt for law-abiding common folk as it goes against common sense. There is absolutely no downside to law enforcement’s increased ability to get proven repeat criminals identified and convicted using mandatory DNA testing of arrestees. Instead of lauding this technological godsend to public safety, the ACLU views it as a threat. Its opinions are aberrant.

Leslie Fuhrer Friedman

Venice