Thread by @heathertal

If you did not read my piece on a new approach to DNA policing over the long weekend you are pardoned. I wanted to share a few things I learned while reporting it. nytimes.com/2019/01/21/sci…

1. 2019 will be the year that DNA fingerprinting starts to become real. Arrestees in five states will be asked to swirl a cotton swab around their inner cheek after a mug shot. Before leaving the station, their profile will be uploaded to the national DNA database.

2. Maybe you thought this was ALREADY happening. It's not. For the past few decades only forensic scientists in labs could upload to a DNA database.

3. It's this device that makes this possible. It's called a Rapid DNA machine. The detective who operates it in Bensalem is also responsible for managing the social media accounts. He said processing DNA is now easier than writing Tweets.

4. I asked what the device has changed beyond speed? Police told me that they are now addressing calls about "suspicious subjects" by requesting DNA.

5. Given that African Americans have been considered "suspicious" for BBQing and giving change to a homeless person there are concerns that stop-and-spit will become the new stop-and-frisk. This quote is by @ErinMurphysLaw

6. Police defend their approach by reiterating that they always ASK for DNA. Why would anyone say yes? One criminal lawyer told me that he does not think people understand what's in the county database. One of his clients matched a soda can for example.

7. A few people messaged asking whether these devices could be used for rape kits. Good question. The same question brought me to to this topic. I saw a story about a rape kit that had been sitting around since 1989.

8. What was going to address the backlog once and for all? Rapid DNA would, several people told me. But then I called the people using Rapid DNA. It can't handle a rape kit, I was told. So what beyond cheek swabs can it handle?

9. Actually there is NO consensus. Some agencies say it's not equipped to reliably handle blood, cigarette butts or touch DNA. Others agencies are using it with all those items and insist that it's fine. There are no rules.

10. I kept hearing that a false profile was nearly impossible. A report by the Swedish police says otherwise.

11. The reason that so many police ARE excited about this system is that the national DNA database contains profiles from thousands of unsolved murders, rapes and kidnappings. The hope is that some will be quickly solved when suspects give DNA during arrests for new crimes.