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Criminal

Apr. 30, 2018

DNA website used in Golden State Killer case raises privacy questions, gives defendant little to test

The use of a non-government DNA database to identify suspected serial killer Joseph James DeAngelo is the highest-profile example of an emerging investigative technique that experts say raises questions about privacy but presents few avenues for legal challenges.

DNA website used in Golden State Killer case raises privacy questions, gives defendant little to test
Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten says that while using a DNA website is "a new and innovative approach," it also incorporates a timeless investigative tactic, to use what is publicly available.

The use of a non-government DNA database to identify suspected serial killer Joseph James DeAngelo is the highest-profile example of an emerging investigative technique that experts say raises questions about privacy but presents few avenues for legal challenges.

“I just can’t imagine a court saying it’s unconstitutional,” said Erin E. Murphy, a professor at New York University School of Law. “This is an occasion to think about the l...

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