DNA i statens förvar
(2016) LAGF03 20162Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract
- The securing at crime scenes of tissue samples that can be used for DNA-profiling is gaining increasing importance in criminal investigations, as well as in lawsuits. Thanks to the combination of refined genetic technologies and markedly improved means to compare DNA profiles detected at crime scenes with those stored in various forensic registries through computerized database searches, both Swedish and foreign individuals can rapidly be implicated as suspects in crime investigations. As there are abundant advantages with this technological development, it might seem tempting to expand the indications for DNA-profiling, the storage of DNA profiles, as well as the interlinking of various registries; ultimately, one could imagine an... (More)
- The securing at crime scenes of tissue samples that can be used for DNA-profiling is gaining increasing importance in criminal investigations, as well as in lawsuits. Thanks to the combination of refined genetic technologies and markedly improved means to compare DNA profiles detected at crime scenes with those stored in various forensic registries through computerized database searches, both Swedish and foreign individuals can rapidly be implicated as suspects in crime investigations. As there are abundant advantages with this technological development, it might seem tempting to expand the indications for DNA-profiling, the storage of DNA profiles, as well as the interlinking of various registries; ultimately, one could imagine an all-encompassing DNA registry with profiles from all citizens. However, there are social and ethical aspects of DNA-profiling and registries that should be taken into account when considering new legislation in this area. Here, I briefly outline how DNA technology is currently used in criminal investigations in Sweden, by which laws this is regulated, and which considerations preceded these laws. I then compare the situation in Sweden with that in two socioeconomically similar countries – Norway and England – where the legislation regarding DNA-profiling and DNA registries in essence is the same as in Sweden. However, some aspects of DNA-profiling and registration are more far-reaching in England. Finally, I discuss how the increasing use of DNA technology in the judicial system of Western countries fits with the sociological theory that claims that the view on how to fight crime has changed during the last few decades. According to this model, fewer resources are now spent on managing the socio-economical causes of crime, the focus instead being shifted to improving methods for identifying and convicting criminals. However, with such a view, emphasizing surveillance instead of profylaxis, there is a non-negligible risk that an expanding set of crimes will become subject to DNA profiling with an accompanying intrusion on personal integrity. (Less)
- Abstract (Swedish)
- Fynd vid brottsplatser av vävnadsprov som kan användas för DNA-profilering har fått en ökande betydelse vid såväl utredning av brott som i efterföljande rättsliga processer. Genom en kombination av förfinad genetisk teknologi och förbättrade möjligheter att via datoriserade register jämföra DNA-fynd från brottsplatser med tidigare insamlade DNA-profiler från kända eller misstänkta brottslingar kan idag såväl svenska som utländska personer mycket snabbt och effektivt knytas till en brottsplats. Fördelarna med denna teknologiska utveckling är många, och det kan därför te sig lockande att utöka befogenheterna för såväl provtagning, som registrering och samkörning av olika register; i förlängningen skulle man även kunna tänka sig ett... (More)
- Fynd vid brottsplatser av vävnadsprov som kan användas för DNA-profilering har fått en ökande betydelse vid såväl utredning av brott som i efterföljande rättsliga processer. Genom en kombination av förfinad genetisk teknologi och förbättrade möjligheter att via datoriserade register jämföra DNA-fynd från brottsplatser med tidigare insamlade DNA-profiler från kända eller misstänkta brottslingar kan idag såväl svenska som utländska personer mycket snabbt och effektivt knytas till en brottsplats. Fördelarna med denna teknologiska utveckling är många, och det kan därför te sig lockande att utöka befogenheterna för såväl provtagning, som registrering och samkörning av olika register; i förlängningen skulle man även kunna tänka sig ett allomfattande DNA-register, med DNA-profiler från samtliga invånare. Det finns dock aspekter på DNA-profilering och registrering som bör beaktas inför ställningstagande till ny lagstiftning inom detta område. I detta arbete redogör jag kort för hur DNA-teknologin används i Sverige vid brottsutredningar, vilka lagar som styr provtagning och registrering samt vilka överväganden som gjorts inför lagstiftningen. Jag jämför sedan svenska förhållanden med dem i två likartade länder – Norge och England – och kan då konstatera att deras lagstiftning i stort är densamma som i Sverige, men att vissa aspekter drivits längre ffa i England. Avslutningsvis diskuterar jag hur den ökande användningen av DNA-teknologin inom rättsväsendet passar in i den sociojuridiska analysmodell som hävdar att det under de senaste decennierna skett en förändring i synen på hur brottslighet bäst ska bekämpas. Enligt denna teori minskar ansträngningarna att förebygga orsakerna till brottslighet, dvs olika sociala åtgärder, till förmån för ett ökat fokus på förbättrade metoder att identifiera och lagföra brottslingar; med ett sådant perspektiv på övervakning istället för profylax finns en inte obetydlig risk för att DNA-profilering kan komma att tillämpas för allt fler typer av brottskategorier, med därav följande risker för intrång i den personliga integriteten. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8897293
- author
- Mertens, Henrik LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- LAGF03 20162
- year
- 2016
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Straffrätt, criminal law, DNA, DNA-profilering, DNA-profiling.
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 8897293
- date added to LUP
- 2017-02-13 08:23:45
- date last changed
- 2017-02-13 08:23:45
@misc{8897293,
abstract = {{The securing at crime scenes of tissue samples that can be used for DNA-profiling is gaining increasing importance in criminal investigations, as well as in lawsuits. Thanks to the combination of refined genetic technologies and markedly improved means to compare DNA profiles detected at crime scenes with those stored in various forensic registries through computerized database searches, both Swedish and foreign individuals can rapidly be implicated as suspects in crime investigations. As there are abundant advantages with this technological development, it might seem tempting to expand the indications for DNA-profiling, the storage of DNA profiles, as well as the interlinking of various registries; ultimately, one could imagine an all-encompassing DNA registry with profiles from all citizens. However, there are social and ethical aspects of DNA-profiling and registries that should be taken into account when considering new legislation in this area. Here, I briefly outline how DNA technology is currently used in criminal investigations in Sweden, by which laws this is regulated, and which considerations preceded these laws. I then compare the situation in Sweden with that in two socioeconomically similar countries – Norway and England – where the legislation regarding DNA-profiling and DNA registries in essence is the same as in Sweden. However, some aspects of DNA-profiling and registration are more far-reaching in England. Finally, I discuss how the increasing use of DNA technology in the judicial system of Western countries fits with the sociological theory that claims that the view on how to fight crime has changed during the last few decades. According to this model, fewer resources are now spent on managing the socio-economical causes of crime, the focus instead being shifted to improving methods for identifying and convicting criminals. However, with such a view, emphasizing surveillance instead of profylaxis, there is a non-negligible risk that an expanding set of crimes will become subject to DNA profiling with an accompanying intrusion on personal integrity.}},
author = {{Mertens, Henrik}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{DNA i statens förvar}},
year = {{2016}},
}