National DNA Data Bank

QUICK FACTS

• The National DNA Data Bank is responsible for two principal indices: the Convicted Offender Index (COI) and the Crime Scene Index (CSI).
• As of October 31, 2005, the Convicted Offender Index has 85,582 entries and the Crime Scene Index has 24,627 DNA profiles.
• The NDDB has recorded 4,124 crime scene to offender matches, and 565 crime scene to crime scene matches.

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• National DNA Data Bank

Overview

The use of forensic DNA analysis has emerged as one of the most powerful tools available to law enforcement agencies for the administration of justice. The National DNA Data Bank (NDDB) assists law enforcement agencies in solving crime by:

• linking crimes together where there are no suspects;
• helping to identify suspects;
• eliminating suspects where there is no match between crime scene DNA and a profile in the NDDB; and
• determining whether a serial offender is involved.

The DNA Identification Act came into force on June 30, 2000 . Along with the creation of the NDDB, which is maintained by the RCMP, the legislation amended the Criminal Code to allow judges to order persons convicted of designated offences to provide blood, hair or saliva samples from which DNA profiles could be derived.

Consistent with the DNA Identification Act , the RCMP has imposed strict procedures governing the handling of DNA profiles and biological samples to ensure that privacy interests are protected. Information collected by the NDDB is used strictly for law enforcement purposes.

The National DNA Data Bank is responsible for two principal indices:

• The Convicted Offender Index (COI) – an electronic index developed from the DNA profiles of offenders convicted of designated Criminal Code offences, as well as persons who are subject to the military’s Code of Service Discipline and convicted of a designated offence under the National Defence Act .

• The Crime Scene Index (CSI) – a separate electronic index composed of DNA profiles obtained from unsolved crime scenes of the same designated offences.

As of October 31, 2005, the Convicted Offender Index has 85,582 entries and the Crime Scene Index has 24,627 DNA profiles. The NDDB has recorded 4,124 crime scene to offender matches, and 565 crime scene to crime scene matches . For the latest NDDB statistics, click here