US senators introduce bill to enable Rapid DNA testing by law enforcement officials

Several US senators have introduced a bill to set up a system for the integration of Rapid DNA instruments for use by law enforcement officials.

The new bill will serve as an addition to the DNA Identification Act, which established federal DNA labs and authorised the FBI to start compiling DNA information into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), way back in 1994.

The new system will provide automated results within two hours of collecting a cheek swab DNA sample.

The new decentralised DNA testing will allow the local law enforcement agencies to perform the tests in compliance with the regulatory norms.

It is expected to reduce crime rates, while enhancing the currently available evidence collection tool such as the rape-kits.

US Senator Orrin Hatch said: "Rapid DNA technology will enable law enforcement agencies to speed up the process of DNA analysis. Rather than having to wait weeks or months for results, officials will be able to know within two hours whether a sample matches evidence from a crime scene.

"Faster results will in turn enable officers to more quickly identify suspects and rule out other individuals as potential suspects.

"This bill will not affect how or when law enforcement collects DNA samples, but rather will simply speed up the process of getting results."

Recently, a similar bill was approved in the US House of Representatives.