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False positives. When selecting from a small pool of suspects the chance of a false positive is negligible. If you are searching the entire population it is no
by dmm 7y ago
False positives. When selecting from a small pool of suspects the chance of a false positive is negligible. If you are searching the entire population it is no longer negligible.
False positives mean a SWAT team knocking down your door and shooting your dog and possibly you. A false positive means your name forever associated with horrible crimes.
Universal DNA databases are an IMMENSE increase in govt power that needs to be matched by greater accountability and oversight.
- bhl 7y agoThat’s being over dramatic. DNA tests are only one component in building a case against someone.
- Verdex 7y agohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Mayfield https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon_Mayfield Sure, he wasn't declared guilty, but he also got a $2 million settlement. What happened to him was bad. $2 million bad. And it was because of a poorly handled finger print. I can't imagine people in the future will be treated better because we're using DNA instead.
- PeterisP 7y agoHere are some articles with examples of false convictions caused solely on DNA test results: https://gizmodo.com/when-bad-dna-tests-lead-to-false-convictions-1797915655 https://gizmodo.com/when-bad-dna-tests-lead-to-false-convict... https://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/mar/09/forensics-firm-investigated-dna https://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/mar/09/forensics-firm-i... https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/forensics-gone-wrong-when-dna-snares-innocent https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/forensics-gone-wrong... That being said, there are also many false convictions where the innocent accused people were exonerated after DNA testing became available.
- ummonk 7y agoA universal DNA database may actually improve things by showing how common false positives are.
- rmtech 7y agoI don't think the thing about false positives is actually true, though obviously it will depend on how good the crime scene sample is, and on how good the police are at their jobs.
- plussed_reader 7y agoAnd the quality/efficiency of the analysis will depend on how the city allocates services to fill this need. And it will depend on the bandwidth for the city/county/state attorneys to take this to plea/trail. I think the pure probability based on the size of the sample pool makes a false positive an inevitability at scale.