The DNA database can substantially reduce crime offences and rates in the country, according to the studies conducted by Professor Jennifer Doleac. The study shows how Europe and America have been successful in cutting down the repeat offences by 42%. Statistically it shows, a 10 per cent increase in the database helps reduce rape offences by almost 7 per cent!
India is continuously seeing an alarming increase in the rate of sexual crime and repeat offences against children and women. The government is tracking the problems and is in urgent need of solutions.
In many states, efforts are being made to boost up the process of DNA capabilities and infrastructure is being renovated to decrease inefficiency and backlogs in forensic labs and case pendency in courts. Experts claim that the DNA Regulation Bill will be an important step in catalyzing action and provision for DNA database for regional and national criminal offenders.
The DNA database can substantially reduce crime offences and rates in the country, according to the studies conducted by Professor Jennifer Doleac. The study shows how Europe and America have been successful in cutting down the repeat offences by 42%.
Statistically it shows, a 10 per cent increase in the database helps reduce rape offences by almost 7 per cent! In Maharashtra, a total of 2,600 cases are related to sexual assault in January 2022. These cases remain pending with the state forensic department.
There are over 2.29,000 cases connected to women facing attacks that are pending with the state courts. As per recent news reports, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse said,
“There are plans to set up new forensic labs, and administrative approval has come in for setting up fast track DNA units in Nashik, Aurangabad and Amaravati”.
Therefore, the government plans to scale DNA capabilities in India and improve the infrastructure along with manpower.
According to a report published by National Crime Records Bureau in September 2021, there are over 4 lakhs crimes committed against children since 2019. With the constant increase in crime rates, there is an urgent need to increase Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs), to overcome the burden of the current labs in the country.
DNA database helps reduce repeat offences
DNA database has proved itself effective as it has helped in preventing repeat crimes in various countries. In South Africa, DNA database found a serial rapist as his DNA matched with 60 rape crime evidences. He was arrested on 1 rape charge and his sample matched with 59 others.
If there had not been DNA database, then these cases would have taken several years to solve. For example, a man in Malaysia abducted a 12-year-old and raped her. This case took 12 years to solve because DNA database wasn’t available before. In recent years, there has been a rise in the demand for DNA testing because of the heinous crimes such as Kotkai Gudiya incident.
The suspect was narrowed down by the CBI with the help of DNA samples which matched with the evidence CBI collected. The accused’s blood sample matched with the semen on the victim’s clothes and the accused was taken to trials.
In yet another case, an 18-year-old Keralite was falsely accused in a POCSO case which was proven with the help of the DNA test report. It is clear how DNA evidence improve law enforcement and help in solving the cases efficiently and quickly. DNA forensic evidence is undeniably one of the world’s best crime-fighting technology.
It has been proved very useful in sexual assault cases and in building conviction. The method is also widely accepted and used in many nations across the globe. Over 60 countries have implemented and executed the national offender DNA database and it is imperative now for India to institutionalize one.
Published By: Apoorva Wakodikar
Edited By: Subbuthai Padma
