Advanced DNA technologies

Advances in DNA technology and expansions in DNA collection practices are reshaping the landscape of modern policing. DNA profiling, which once had to be performed in specialized laboratories by analysts, can now be conducted using fully automated machines that produce results in a matter of hours. New forensic methods, such as forensic investigative genetic genealogy, or “FIGG,” promise to unlock leads in cases that have long seemed unsolvable. These developments hold real potential to improve public safety, enhance investigative efficiency, and deliver justice more swiftly.

At the same time, the rapid evolution of DNA technologies raise profound questions about accuracy, transparency, and genetic privacy. As tools have become faster, more powerful, and more accessible, law enforcement’s DNA collection practices have grown broader and more aggressive — often outpacing the legal and regulatory frameworks designed to govern them. 

Without careful safeguards, these technological shifts risk undermining individual rights and tarnishing DNA’s reputation as the forensic “gold standard.”

Our work on advanced DNA collection and analysis practices entails three reports which examine the promises and perils of emerging DNA technologies: rapid DNA analysis, expanded DNA collection, and FIGG. Each report explores how innovation in DNA analysis is transforming policing, while identifying the gaps in governance that must be addressed to ensure these tools are used responsibly.

Taken together, these reports underscore a central theme: technological progress in DNA analysis must be matched by equally robust systems of governance. Sensible regulation can help ensure accuracy, protect civil liberties, and maintain public confidence, while still allowing law enforcement to benefit from powerful new tools.