DNA Lab Analysis

At present, it is unclear if it makes financial sense for DHS to establish its own DNA laboratory capability. HSOAC needs to collect more data on the demand signal for DNA processing and matching across the DHS enterprise. Under 28 CFR 28.12, DHS is required to collect DNA from detainees and arrestees to identify them and potentially link them to DNA samples found in conjunction to other on-going investigations. However, at present, only a fraction of that required population receives DNA collection and matching. HSOAC will engage with DHS law enforcement Components to understand the expected population of to receive DNA collection and the constraints to collection in the near future. For each Component with 28 CFR 28.12 obligations, the study will: determine the current and anticipated demand (in terms of number of requests per year) for processing and matching DNA determine constraints on the collection of DNA in these cases (e.g., labor, training) It will build on previous work HSOAC contributed to, including the DHS Strategy for DNA as a Biometric. Additionally, DNA has the need to do more than meet its 28 CFR 28.12 obligations. It needs to use DNA in numerous use cases outside of law enforcement to establish familial ties (e.g., parent-child, sibling-sibling). These ties are often important to DHS missions (e.g., immigration processing, disaster recovery, or counter trafficking) but DNA is infrequently used as evidence of these ties for these missions. As such, HSOAC will conduct an assessment to estimate the demand on any DHS-wide DNA biometric management capability for each of these missions. For each, the study will: define and scope the mission in question and describe why DHS needs to determine familial relationship between two or more people to achieve this mission; identify current DNA-based or other non-biometric practices of determining familial ties to achieve the mission; determine the current and anticipated demand (in terms of number of requests per year) for assessing familial ties in that mission; determine the extent to which this demand could be replaced by a DNA-based method and, if so, the extent that DNA-based method could or should have its resultant DNA profile data integrated into a future DHS-wide DNA biometric management capability. Prior work on the DHS Strategy for DNA as a Biometric can be used to inform these assessments. It should be noted that these missions also have other characteristics that might not lend them well to using a cross-DHS DNA forensics laboratory. These could include a lack of need to integrate with CODIS, a preference for on-site or private DNA collection/matching capabilities, or a potential desire to keep law enforcement and non-law enforcement uses of DNA as a biometric distinct. HSOAC will document these considerations as well.