I received a letter today for the Ohio Juvenile Department of Corrections informing me that they will collecting a DNA sample from my daughter. She is in a Juvenile facility here in Ohio. She just turned 17 and is in for a minimum one year sentence. Here sample, after administered, will be sent to the State DNA bank and be archived forever!

I had heard that they were going to do this with Federally released adult prisoners, just thought folks would like to know how far reaching this collection is going to be.

~Debra

Oh Wow Debra! I didnt know that! I knew about the adults but I didnt think they could do that to juveniles. Seems they are not going to let up on the young ones at all. What is there purpose? Do they give a purpose? Do they have to? Since they are still underage, dont we as their parents have a say so or is that a wards decision too? So much for our protected youth huh? *sigh...*

If they wanted a DNA sample from me, i would say "go right ahead" because i have nothing to hide, and would never do anything that would get myself into trouble. I think it's a good idea personally, whether it is youth OR adults..

I was told by my ex-husbands PO that his DNA was collected upon release. Just another example of Big Brother. She said that he has a history of violence against women and they wanted it in case someone left DNA behind and the comparisons.

This is true in NJ too but the ACLU-NJ is challenging the law for kids as well as adults. I don't know if the case is in State or Federal court--I'll have to check!

I'd happily have my DNA archived somewhere...just in case someday somebody finds one of my limbs in a dumpster or something and they need to identify it. :) I'm so morbidly optimistic :)

I agree in DNA archive, I dont believe in DNA archiving of children. Its not even really the DNA as much as it is the fact that they are pulling more rights away as parents each and every day for me. Furthermore... DNA archive cost a ton to do it yourself. I think its about 3000 now. Can you imagine how much that cost us taxpayers?
Dont get me wrong, It is a good thing. I just have issues with them pulling from children without choice from the parents...same as immunization shots to a child whose parents are against it but yet because he/she is in the hands of the state...well, thats just too bad. See where I come from? I dont know.

I wonder if they could use it to match up parents and kids in prisons, or siblings! I am sure it happens all the time that people have relatives in the prison system that they don't know of.

I also believe in DNA testing. At least from my point of view if my DNA is on file then I can be cleared as a suspect right away.

As for children, I totally agree with you angeltob. I would want to be the one authorizing it for my child. I think when it comes to something like that the system is again just flexing their muscles... because they can....

I do know that currently in Minnesota DNA testing is done on all inmates of state correctional facilities. It used to only have certain offences but they ammended that last year, and now they take everyones DNA.

Thanks for all of your comments. I have been thinking about this since the letter came and I finally figured out why I have a problem with it. It is more about them just letting me know it is going to be done and not asking for my permission than anything else. I do think that DNA testing is appropriate and needed. I also feel that it should extend further than just inmates giving samples. We all know there are criminals walking around. Just taking samples from inmates is a guilty by association charge and I really do not like that.

Another perspective that I have on this is, my daughter has been in trouble since she was about 14. After years of visiting juvenile court, treatment facilites and many other alternatives-this was the final straw for her and she is incarcerated. I hope and pray every day that this is the end and her rude awakening-so to speak. This DNA file is just one more reason for her to walk the right path after her release. I plan on explaining DNA, the DNA Bank and all that it will mean to her, in full detail. I want her to have this over her head. She still has a chance to get her life right.

~Debra