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WELCOME
TO THE NATIONAL DNA
DATA BANK WEBSITE
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NDDB
Brochure Download in PDF
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The
Canadian police community had, for some time, called for the creation
of a DNA data bank to assist police investigations. The government
responded by assenting to the DNA Identification Act on December
10, 1998. This legislation allowed a DNA data bank to be created
and amended the Criminal Code to provide a mechanism for a judge
to order persons convicted of designated offences to provide blood,
buccal or hair samples from which DNA profiles will be derived.
The legislation became official on June 30, 2000.
The
use of forensic DNA analysis in solving crime is proving to be
as revolutionary as the introduction of fingerprint evidence in
court more than a century ago. Remarkably, Canadian police have
been using forensic DNA evidence for little more than a decade,
yet it has emerged as one of the most powerful tools available
to law enforcement agencies for the administration of justice.
DNA analysis is the next generation of human identification in
the science of police investigations and is considered a major
enhancement for the safety of all Canadians.
The
value of DNA to police investigations is enormous. Biological
samples collected from a crime scene can either link a suspect
to the scene, or rule the suspect out as the donor of the DNA.
Evidence from different crime scenes can be compared to link the
same perpetrator to multiple offences, whether the crimes took
place locally, across the country, or halfway around the world.
It can also identify a victim through DNA from close relatives.
Deoxyribononucleic
acid (DNA) is a long, double-stranded molecule that looks like
a twisted rope ladder or double helix. Sometimes referred to as
the blueprint of life, DNA is the fundamental building block for
your entire genetic makeup. When sperm and egg unite, equal amounts
of DNA from your mother and father come together. DNA is found
in virtually every tissue in the human body. The DNA in your blood
is the same as the DNA in your skin cells, saliva, and the roots
of your hair. Highly discriminating, DNA is a powerful tool for
identifying individuals. With the exception of identical twins,
each person's DNA is unique to them.
Using
modern technology, your DNA can be extracted from a small biological
sample, such as a few drops of blood. This sample can be analyzed,
creating a DNA profile that can be used to identify you. A DNA
profile, drawn from a known biological sample, can be compared
to an unknown DNA profile drawn from a different biological sample.
If the profiles match, the two samples come from the same person.
If the profiles don't match, the samples come from different people.
The
DNA molecule is very stable and can withstand significant environmental
challenge which enables forensic scientists to obtain new information
from very old biological evidence or establish important data
from badly degraded samples. The stability of the molecule, combined
with the discriminating features of each individual's DNA and
the accuracy of current DNA analysis techniques, makes this human
identification technology a vital component of most police investigations.
The
National DNA Data Bank respects considerations of genetic privacy
and follows strict guidelines as specified in the DNA Identification
Act. The biological samples collected from convicted offenders
and the resulting DNA profiles can only be used for law enforcement
purposes. For more information on this subject, see the "Privacy
and Security" section of this web-site.
The
National DNA Data Bank contributes to the administration of justice
and the safety of Canadians by ensuring that those who commit
serious crimes are identified more quickly across all police jurisdictions
in Canada while innocent people are eliminated from suspicion.
It assists law enforcement agencies in solving crimes by:
- Linking
crimes together where there are no suspects; ·
- Helping
to identify suspects;
- Eliminating
suspects where there is no match between crime scene DNA and
a DNA profile in the National DNA Data Bank; and,
- Determining
whether a serial offender is involved
The National
DNA Data Bank is responsible for two principal indices:
- The Convicted
Offender Index (COI) is the electronic index that has been developed
from DNA profiles collected from offenders convicted of designated
primary and secondary offences identified in section 487.04
of the Criminal Code; and,
- The Crime
Scene Index (CSI) is a separate electronic index composed of
DNA profiles obtained from crime scene investigations of the
same designated offences addressed in the Act.
To
date, several thousands of DNA samples from convicted offenders
have been processed and added to the National DNA Data Bank, along
with samples received from various crime scenes across the country.
Thousands of police officers from every province and territory
in Canada have been trained to collect DNA samples that are then
forwarded to the National DNA Data Bank for analysis.
The
National DNA Data Bank is a shining example of the increasing
importance of science and technology in modern law enforcement.
Our complex, globalized world has created a whole new set of challenges
for police. To stay ahead of the criminals, we must make better
use of cutting edge science, such as forensic DNA.
An
idea that first surfaced more than a decade ago, the National
DNA Data Bank has overcome major scientific and legislative hurdles
along the way. One by one, each challenge has been met successfully.
The final product is a forensic tool providing key evidence in
criminal cases that have exonerated the innocent and brought suspected
offenders before the courts.
The National DNA Data Bank conforms with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and is recognized as an accredited testing laboratory for specific tests listed in the scope of accreditation approved by the Standards Council of Canada.
Canadians
can be proud of the National DNA Data Bank and the certainty that
its highly qualified staff will help to solve hundreds of crimes
in coming years, as the scientific know-how and technological
tools continue to improve.
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