Dear Editor,
I write in response to an article in another newspaper of Sunday, May 9, 2015, titled, 'Why I Oppose DNA Law,' written by prominent Jamaican lawyer Bert Samuels. I wish to commend the writer wholeheartedly for so brilliantly setting out the case against DNA evidence, and sincerely hope our legislators will read this article so that when the relevant Bills are debated in Parliament, careful thought will be given before passing them.
As a former member of the security forces, I fully endorse Samuels' arguments, especially as they relate to DNA tampering. I am worried that our police force is nowhere near where it ought to be in terms of integrity and public trust when it comes to implementing such legislation.
I am particularly concerned about the DNA database that has to be maintained. Who will be in charge of it, and what DNA will find its way into the DNA database? Will the DNA to be stored be only that which has been obtained with the full knowledge and consent of the relevant person involved? Will DNA be extracted from people before they are arrested and just when they fall under suspicion? In other words, will DNA be taken from those who are presumed to be innocent and not yet convicted of a crime? In addition, when does one's DNA finds its way into the DNA database, and what provisions will be in place to have it expunged?
It is very important that we as Jamaicans understand that DNA samples represent an assault on privacy, with deeply personal information being held by others that may be used without our knowledge or consent. It is also important that we, and especially our legislators, understand that there are inherent dangers in granting a tool to fight crime to a police force with deficiencies, and that the inappropriate or wrongful use of this tool could, in time, creep into other areas in ways that impinge on personal liberties.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
DNA laws must not expose public
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I write in response to an article in another newspaper of Sunday, May 9, 2015, titled, 'Why I Oppose DNA Law,' written by prominent Jamaican lawyer Bert Samuels. I wish to commend the writer wholeheartedly for so brilliantly setting out the case against DNA evidence, and sincerely hope our legislators will read this article so that when the relevant Bills are debated in Parliament, careful thought will be given before passing them.
As a former member of the security forces, I fully endorse Samuels' arguments, especially as they relate to DNA tampering. I am worried that our police force is nowhere near where it ought to be in terms of integrity and public trust when it comes to implementing such legislation.
I am particularly concerned about the DNA database that has to be maintained. Who will be in charge of it, and what DNA will find its way into the DNA database? Will the DNA to be stored be only that which has been obtained with the full knowledge and consent of the relevant person involved? Will DNA be extracted from people before they are arrested and just when they fall under suspicion? In other words, will DNA be taken from those who are presumed to be innocent and not yet convicted of a crime? In addition, when does one's DNA finds its way into the DNA database, and what provisions will be in place to have it expunged?
It is very important that we as Jamaicans understand that DNA samples represent an assault on privacy, with deeply personal information being held by others that may be used without our knowledge or consent. It is also important that we, and especially our legislators, understand that there are inherent dangers in granting a tool to fight crime to a police force with deficiencies, and that the inappropriate or wrongful use of this tool could, in time, creep into other areas in ways that impinge on personal liberties.
Colonel Allan Douglas
Kingston 10
alldouglas@aol.com
DNA laws must not expose public
-->