Managing forensic DNA records in a divided world: the Belgian case
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to describe the activity of managing records related to forensic DNA identification. First, it illustrates the fundamentals behind the technique of forensic DNA identification. Second, it explains the legal and institutional contexts in which it is used as well as the notion of DNA-based judicial records. Third, it provides details of records management issues that are met in practice.
Design/methodology/approach
An interdisciplinary team reflects upon the practices surrounding the management of DNA-based records in the Belgian National DNA database during more than 10 years.
Findings
The main problems with managing DNA-based judicial records stem from the existence of natural boundaries between the various stakeholders operating with or within the Belgian judicial system. Six types of issues have been found: non-automaticity and omission, error-prone and inefficient manual operations, electronic issues, results quality, useful reporting and incoherence and duplication. These problems are discussed in terms of four records characteristics: completeness, correctness, traceability and usability.
Research limitations/implications
The research is limited to the Belgian case with no comparison with other countries.
Practical implications
This paper attempts to formulate general principles that aim to stimulate good practices in managing records in the field of criminal justice.
Social implications
The ethical issues surrounding the domain of criminal policy (e.g. the proper use of financial resources, the fair and balance use of records to carry out justice) are of general interest to the public.
Originality/value
The paper benefits from a large temporal angle (more than 10 years) and applies a multidisciplinary viewpoint on its subject.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The writing and research for this paper were supported by the PIES project and the Be-Gen project. The PIES project “The Prüm Implementation, Evaluation, and Strengthening of Forensic DNA Data Exchange”, project number HOME/2011/ISEC/AG/PRUM/4000002150 received financial support of the ISEC Programme “Prevention of and Fight against Crime” (Fixed graphicEuropean Commission – Directorate-General Home Affairs), grant agreement number 30-CE-0498536/00-03. The Be-Gen project “Understanding the Operational, Strategic and Political Implications of the National Genetic Database” received financial support of the BRAIN-be Programme “Belgian Research Action through Interdisciplinary Networks” (Belgian Science Policy Office), contract number BR/132/A4/Be-Gen. The sole responsibility lies with the authors. The European Commission and the Belgian Science Policy Office are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained in this paper.
Citation
Jeuniaux, P.P.J.M.H., Renard, B., Duboccage, L., Steuve, S., Stappers, C., Gallala, I., De Moor, S., Jonckheere, A., Mine, B., Vanhooydonck, B., Kempenaers, M., De Greef, C., Van Renterghem, P. and Vanvooren, V. (2015), "Managing forensic DNA records in a divided world: the Belgian case", Records Management Journal, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 269-287. https://doi.org/10.1108/RMJ-05-2015-0018
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited