Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Focus on DNA collection from juveniles
0:32:52
ยท
79 sec
The discussion narrows to focus on DNA collection practices for juveniles. Deputy Commissioner Gerber provides specific statistics and explains the NYPD's policy for collecting DNA from minors.
- In 2024, 74 abandonment samples and 7 consent samples were taken from juveniles
- Gerber notes that their data doesn't distinguish between pre-arrest and post-arrest collection if they occur on the same day
- He mentions that if the proposed bill passes, they will have to track pre-arrest and post-arrest collections separately
Yusef Salaam
0:32:52
The question that particular part of the question was about folks under the age 18.
Michael Gerber
0:32:56
Yeah.
0:32:57
So so in terms of juveniles, so for example, in 2024, abandonment samples that we took from juveniles, a 70 four.
0:33:10
And then consent samples from juveniles in 2024, that number was seven.
0:33:17
Now one thing I do wanna emphasize, I think this is important, we don't have good data pre arrest versus post arrest, particularly if the arrest happens the same day as the collection.
0:33:30
And what I mean by that is you can imagine a scenario which whether the abandonment or consent a sample is taken.
0:33:38
Later that day an arrest is made, And then that sample that was taken will be associated with the arrest even though it was taken pre arrest.
0:33:47
So our data doesn't distinguish between samples taken pre arrest versus samples taken post arrest, if that makes sense.
0:33:55
Obviously, if the bill passes, we will have to track that going forward.
0:34:00
The bill distinguishes quite sharply between pre arrest and post arrest situations.
0:34:05
And of course, if that becomes the law, we will we will necessarily track these matters.