Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 01, 2008 Tevet 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:30 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine

del.icio.us Digg It!  new Police gathering saliva samples from prisoners for national DNA bank By Jonathan Lis Police started collecting DNA samples from prisoners Thursday in order to add them to a comprehensive database they have been building since February. Crime scene investigators from the Israel Police's Division of Crime Identification (DCI) on Thursday took cheek swabs from 183 prisoners in two wings of the Ayalon prison. This is the first time police have taken DNA samples from prisoners, not just recent convicts or suspects. Advertisement Police are expected to continue taking DNA samples at other Israeli jails. The database was legislated in 2005 in order to let police investigators cross-reference genetic profiles taken from crime scenes and identify serial offenders more efficiently. DNA samples also have been collected from persons detained for questioning under caution. Legally, police may use the DNA database only in cases involving violent crimes, property crimes and security crimes. Only felons convicted of such crimes were required to provide DNA samples on Thursday. The prisoners were notified in advance, and were asked to allow DCI personnel to swab the inside of their cheeks, in order to collect a saliva sample. A police source said Thursday that none of the prisoners objected. "The law orders us to take real-time samples from anyone convicted [of relevant crimes]," said Chief Superintendent Dr. Zafrir Goren, who heads the DCI's laboratories, "but we must also work retroactively and take samples from anyone who was convicted and jailed for these crimes. These samples will be entered into our national DNA database." Goren said Thursday that the samples being collected will also be used to help solve open cases. The database, which began operating in February 2007, now contains the genetic profiles of more than 15,000 convicts. In the past 10 months, it has led to 130 indictments. Even so, in order for this database to be considered effective in international terms, it will have to contain DNA samples of more than 5 percent of the country's population - more than 350,000 genetic profiles. When the database was established, human rights organizations were concerned that letting the state hold such a vast quantity of information about its citizens would harm privacy. The police therefore decided to adopt the British model first - producing a genetic profile of every suspect and every convict, to be stored with no time limit. The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee held extensive discussions on this subject, with representatives of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, and restricted the use of the database. Among other things, the new law states that data on a suspect will be erased from the database after seven years if criminal proceedings against him end without a conviction. The genetic profiles of convicts will be erased after 20 years. The database will also not be open for research use, unless the research is approved by a committee headed by a judge. The police will have to provide annual reports on the number of samples collected and the number destroyed. Bookmark to del.icio.us Construction freeze PM says no W. Bank construction without his prior approval. Lived to tell the tale Surviving hiker recounts Friday's attack in Hebron Hills.

Today Online Study: Number of Palestinians killed by IDF drops 43% Responses: 158 Arab pupils lag behind Jews in reading comprehension Responses: 103 Barak: The onus for conduct of Lebanon war is on government Responses: 73 Yossi Melman: Media glare may endanger the Jews of Iran Responses: 65 Egypt warns Israel not to undermine Cairo's ties with Washington Responses: 66 Haaretz.com TV: Yellow star worn by Jews in WWII auctioned off in T.A. Responses: 32 More Headlines 02:14 Hamas signals would agree to lull in fighting with Israel 21:58 Cairo warns Israel not to undermine Egyptian ties to U.S. 18:21 Report: Prisoner swap deal for Shalit to be set in next 2 weeks 21:20 IDF: Palestinian pilgrim killed at Erez crossing shot by our troops 18:41 60 years on, Jewish soldiers say they feel secure in German army 20:05 Barak: Onus for conduct of war lies with government 21:27 Syrian-run media calls on U.S. to launch direct dialogue promptly 20:29 Comptroller to compile report on past efforts to release Pollard 00:54 Treasury, faculty make progress under auspices of labor court Previous Editions Select Day 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec

Special Offers Advertisement Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com ! AMERICANS ONE MONTH LEFT US citizen in Israel beat online Democrats-Abroad Presidential Primary deadline.

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved