# Would YOU (Voluntarily) Give a DNA Sample to the Police? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 8, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796 "2005-01-08T22:51:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/41 "2005-01-09T18:35:19Z")
Here in California, you don’t even need to be convicted in order to be required to give a DNA sample: [Requires collection of DNA samples from all felons, and from adults and juveniles arrested for or charged with specified crimes, and submission to state DNA database; and; in five years, from adults arrested for or charged with any felony.](http://www.smartvoter.org/2004/11/02/ca/state/prop/69/) ---
**Author:** ![Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f04885/32.png) [@Ninja\_Pizza\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninja_Pizza_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/42 "2005-01-09T23:48:50Z")
> [@treis](#): > > I’m not the murder. The only thing that can happen by me giving DNA is for me to go to jail for a crime I didn’t commit. I’m curious. Could you explain how giving a DNA sample will automatically send you to jail? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/43 "2005-01-09T23:56:18Z")
It wouldn’t automatically send me to jail but either Police incompetence, corruption, framing or testing error may. Why would I expose myself to that risk for no tangible benefit to anyone? ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/44 "2005-01-10T00:03:07Z")
Yeah, as several people have indicated, I wouldn’t do it just because I was in the same geographical vicinity that a murder took place, but if I were one of twelve people in a house the night Colonel Mustard got whacked on the head with a candlestick (and put up a valiant fight before dying, thus managing to get some of the murderer’s blood and skin cells under his fingernails), then I’d likely submit a sample. Fingerprints too. > [@Martin Hyde](#): > > Now, if I was a prime suspect in a crime and I did not commit it I would probably first submit to a lie detector test then submit DNA if that didn’t get the police out of my life. Actually, I would _not_ be happy about submitting to a lie detector test. Or rather, I’d submit to a lie detector test, if someone would just hurry up and invent a lie detector. I don’t trust polygraphs, though. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/45 "2005-01-10T00:26:16Z")
Hell, no, I wouldn’t. Not without a warrant. This is one of the erosions of privacy, and implicity liberty, that Benjamin Franklin warned us about : > [@](#): > > Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/46 "2005-01-10T00:27:53Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Note: Lawyers inputs not wanted. Well excuuuuuse me. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Guy\_Incognito\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@Guy\_Incognito\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Incognito_1)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/47 "2005-01-10T16:10:00Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Note: Lawyers inputs not wanted. That should read “Lawyers’ inputs not wanted.” - a lawyer ---
**Author:** ![GomiBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@GomiBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GomiBoy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/48 "2005-01-10T17:58:44Z")
No way in hell would I give a sample. It’s already too slippery of a slope, and it just gets more slippery the more the ‘little things’ get worn away… ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/49 "2005-01-10T19:29:34Z")
If I was guilty of the crime? Hell no. That’d be stupid. I’m not stupid. If I was innocent of the crime? Hell no. I already _know_ I’m innocent, and I have nothing to prove until someone actually accuses me of the crime. Giving them access to my DNA would therefore be unnecessary, and can, in the worst case, implicate me in the crime through methods other Dopers have posited. However… I do think that it’s just a matter of time until every citizen’s DNA is on file anyway, by law. The benefits outweigh the detriments, in my opinion. Until such time as the necessary bills are passed, however, I’ll not be volunteering. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/50 "2005-01-10T19:49:35Z")
What would be the reaction of the folks here if they were asked to provide a sample for a reason not related to law enforcement? I had to supply a blood sample for the National Marrow Donor Registry (voluntary) and the DNA registry for military personnel (not voluntary). ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/51 "2005-01-10T20:32:33Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > What would be the reaction of the folks here if they were asked to provide a sample for a reason not related to law enforcement? I had a background check and a drug test for my job. I think it is no different in principle to DNA sampling. But that was a private company, not the government. I would supply the sample. My interest in the matter is that I want the police to catch the killer, and I know it isn’t me, and I would rather not have the police waste their time. I would resist the notion that my refusal to provide a sample could establish an inference as to my guilt in a court of law, but that is a different matter. It would be sort of having a cop show up on your doorstep some morning who says, “There was a shooting last night next door. Did you happen to hear anything?” and responding “I refuse to answer on the advice of counsel” instead of “Sorry, I was out of town until half an hour ago.” I understand the principle, but it is less trouble to rule yourself out. Refusing to cooperate with police is not evidence of guilt, but that doesn’t mean it is a smart or worthwhile thing all the time. And I rather doubt that it would be a short step from voluntarily giving up a blood sample to jack-booted thugs breaking down my door. YMMV. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/52 "2005-01-10T21:35:41Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > What say you all? It would be a stupid thing to do. The necessary scientific testing on things like false negatives coupled with our general mathematical illiteracy makes it a bad idea regardless of issues like privacy. For reference, please see _Calculated Risks_. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/53 "2005-01-10T22:19:41Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Note: Lawyers inputs not wanted. In Massachusetts (Trro, on Cape Cod), a woman was mudered in 2002. So far, the police haven’t identified any suspects-so they are now asking male residents of the town to make voluntary contributuions of their DNA samples. This sounds OK at first (a savage murderer was caught in England, a few years ago, when the townspeople were asked to submit DNA samples), but on second thought, why should anyone give up their right against self-incrimination? Obviously, the police are frustrated…but clearly, they MUST have some DNA evidence…and asking people to give up their DNA sounds dangerous to me…how can you be sure that your DNA was not transported to the murder scene by accident? Or, could you DNA implicate you in other crimes? > What say you all? No. Fuckin’. Way. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/54 "2005-01-10T22:37:49Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > What would be the reaction of the folks here if they were asked to provide a sample for a reason not related to law enforcement? > > I had to supply a blood sample for the National Marrow Donor Registry (voluntary) and the DNA registry for military personnel (not voluntary). It really depends on the level of anonymity and/or discretion, the intended use of the DNA, and the trustworthyness of those requesting a sample. I certainly don’t trust cops. Sure, most are fine folks, but enough appear to be sufficiently corrupt that anyone really should take a defensive stance when being asked for evidence, and know their rights. It’s just good CYA procedure. If law enforcement wants my DNA, they can come up with a good reason for procuring it and get a warrant. Otherwise, no effing way. These guys in Truro are idiots. Of course there must be a few folks like me who are going to tell them to stick it in their collective ears; perhaps there could be scores or hundreds of us within the radius they’re sweeping. So, they’ve gone so far as to state they’re looking for folks who have “got something to hide”. Great. Now they’ll transition from having _no_ suspects to having tens or hundreds of suspects. I doubt a little town on the Cape has the kind of manpower to follow up on all those leads. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/55 "2005-01-10T22:46:23Z")
Oh, yes, I almost forgot: > [@ralph124c](#): > > Note: Lawyers inputs not wanted. Oh yeah? That’s not what your _mom said!!_ Ooo! Oo yeah! Burn! I rule! ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/56 "2005-01-11T01:21:29Z")
Of course I would, if for no reason other than to make sure that no one had any suspicion of me. I’m all about a library of DNA, too. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/57 "2005-01-11T02:42:08Z")
No way! If there’s someone I need to whack in the future I can’t have that stuff on file. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/58 "2005-01-11T14:05:40Z")
Er…I meant false _positives_—those are the ones who get us innocent folk in trouble. > [@pravnik](#): > > Ooo! Oo yeah! Burn! I rule! Good one, dude. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/59 "2005-01-13T00:29:48Z")
The latest on ths is, the Truro polic are walking around with a picture of the dead woman’s5-year old daughter, and asking for voluntary submissions.Again, I don’t get it: nobody with any connection to the murder victimis going to give a sample, and DNA testing hundreds of samples isn’t cheap. Unless of course the police hope to flush out a suspect. Anyway, seems like an inefficient way to solve a crime. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796/60 "2005-01-13T16:21:25Z")
> [@js\_africanus](#): > > Er…I meant false _positives_—those are the ones who get us innocent folk in trouble. In addition to the civil liberties issues, there’s a basic practical problem – false positives are likely to overwhelm true positives, because the number of innocent people scanned is so much larger than the number of guilty ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-voluntarily-give-a-dna-sample-to-the-police/283796.md?page=2)