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Q&A
Informing individuals of their rights when requesting DNA samples
0:50:53
ยท
45 sec
Deputy Commissioner Gerber explains the NYPD's process for informing individuals of their rights when requesting voluntary DNA samples.
- NYPD is required to inform individuals of their right to refuse consent
- They use standard language, now in an electronic form, to inform individuals
- Individuals are told that their sample could be entered into the local database and compared against other samples
- Gerber emphasizes that without properly informing individuals, any consent would be invalid
Yusef Salaam
0:50:53
Does the does the NYPD inform an individual of their rights to refuse consent when the department is requesting that an individual voluntarily provide a DNA sample?
Michael Gerber
0:51:05
Absolutely.
0:51:06
We we are required to do that.
0:51:07
We do that.
0:51:09
We have a standard language that we use.
0:51:11
There used to be a hard copy form.
0:51:13
We now have an electronic form, And, it's quite fulsome.
0:51:20
They are informed of their right to decline.
0:51:22
They are informed that this sample could be entered into the local database and compared against other DNA samples.
0:51:29
So, the answer to your question is yes.
0:51:31
Absolutely.
0:51:32
And and to be blunt, if we didn't do that, the consent would be no good.
0:51:36
There's no question about that.