Criminal Genomic Pragmatism: Prisoners' Representations of DNA Technology and Biosecurity
Table 1
Model for conceptualisation of meanings and uses attributed to DNA.
Representation of DNA
Description of DNA
Main agents
Actions
Genomic minimalism
Mundane identifier, a mere record of identity
Criminal justice system, civil servants
Forensic use of DNA as a low risk/high benefit solution to criminal detection
Genetic exceptionalism
Exceptional richness of information
Ethics committees, human rights groups
Need to regulate its uses in medicine, insurance and employment, and in forensic applications
Biometric pragmatism
Powerful biometric identifier
Investigators, criminal prosecutors, some academic forensic experts
Exceptionalism is recognised, but as a resource for fighting crime rather than a restraint; no need to classify the information as requiring unique ethical treatment
