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04/14/2004 Archived Entry: "While you were watching the Train Wreck..."
While you were watching the Train Wreck...
Charlottesville, Virginia has become Little Cape Town.
The police department's decision to test the DNA of hundreds of black men in their search for a serial rapist has angered community leaders who view it as racial profiling.At a forum at the University of Virginia, city leaders, academics and residents criticized the practice during a presentation by city Police Chief Timothy J. Longo and other law enforcement personnel.
"Because the suspect is black, every black man is a suspect," said University of Virginia graduate student Steven Turner, who has twice refused to be tested. "What are we going to do about this as a community?"
Longo said police question and test men for three reasons: Tips from the public, a potential suspect has a record of sex crimes or burglaries, or a 911 call alerts authorities about a man who resembles the drawing of the rapist.
Replies: 6 people speak up
They forgot the final and most important reason, they're on a fucking fishing expedition because they're too fucking lazy to find the rapist the old-fashioned way, serious police and investigative work. This is bullshit, what are they going to do with that DNA data once this case is over? Throw it away? Fuck no, they're going to hold on to it. And they'll add to it every chance they get. Then pretty soon, they'll have a database of every adult in that town. Then they'll move on to children, citing the "need" for tracking in cases of abductions, kidnappings, murders, etc. The historical trend in any tool that has been handed to law enforcement is "mission creep". Remember that phrase, mission creep, because it's what happens when one area of law enforcement starts using something from a different area, eg. vehicle and property forfeitures were originally meant for high-level drug dealers/distributors. Now police routinely seize vehicles from prostitution johns, drug deals, etc. It will happen with DNA databases, unless we stop it in its tracks early.
Posted by Stentor @ 04/14/2004 12:32 PM NY
My fingerprints have been on file with the FBI ever since I had a background check for a security clearance back in the mid 80's. I've never worried about it. Why? Simple: I don't break the law.
If there was a sampling taken of men who shared my general appearance, would I be bothered about providing a DNA swab? No. Why? Simple: I don't break the law.
Having a drivers license, a social security number, fingerprints or a DNA swab is another method of identification. No big deal.
Posted by Murphy @ 04/14/2004 12:58 PM NY
Seems I've heard that before with of all things "gun control". Now whether its rape or 2nd amendment rights the government will inturde and expand. What's the big surprise ? In California just for the privilege of driving you get to have a thumb print done. I also worked at the INEL outside of Boise, not only did the union allow fingerprinting and photographing, they allowed us to be searched at anytime as well as shot for not complying. Yes it was a security job but I dont remember asking for my fingerprints or photo back.
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/14/2004 01:59 PM NY
I believe there is a huge difference in "volunteering" information or fingerprints for security clearence, and the blatant racial profiling that Charlottesville is attempting.
NRA folks and conservatives all accross the land cry foul when we talk about Balistic Fingerprint Databases... but THEY don't bat an eyelash at this DNA Testing/Racial Profiling. Geeez some peoples priorities are so out of whack. This is what living in a police state does to people.
Posted by sellursoul @ 04/14/2004 03:29 PM NY
Ballistic Fingerprint Databases dont work. Why? , because over time the riflings change or a simple cleaning rod can change them. Now i do agree fingerprints cange be changed somewhat however not that much.
heres my link for the lamers who will need it http://www.flashbunny.org/content/fingerprint.html
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/14/2004 06:53 PM NY
Yeah Murphy, we've all heard that if you're not guilty, then what do you have to fear bullshit. Because that's what it is, bullshit. We have this funny expectation in America, it's called reasonable suspicion, or probable cause. But that's not what's being done here, this is a large-scale fishing net dragged through the area, under the guise of swabbings for DNA. The expectation of privacy is what's being challenged here, not people's expected guilt or innocence. Next thing, the police will routinely start asking people for DNA swabs for other crimes, and it will be other ethnic or even religious groups (think abortion clinic bombers). Mission creep is the standard for law enforcement, they always expand beyond the boundaries of their original mission parameters, and meanwhile our privacy is eroded bit by bit, like pigeons on a loaf of bread. It's not the miles I worry about, it's the inches.
Posted by Stentor @ 04/15/2004 02:24 PM NY
