NYPD’s DNA file saves teens’ lives — but know-nothing Council wants it shut down

New York Post - Mar 24th, 2025
Open on New York Post

New York City is experiencing a troubling rise in youth crime, with victimization levels reaching record highs. The NYPD reports a 71% increase in minors affected by major crimes over the last five years, including incidents of rape, robbery, and assault. Concurrently, juvenile arrests have surged, particularly for gun and narcotics offenses. In response, the NYC Council is considering legislation to restrict DNA collection from minors, requiring parental or legal consent. This proposal has sparked debate, as the NYPD argues that DNA sampling is crucial for solving crimes and deterring future criminal behavior among youth.

Critics of the proposed bill, including policing experts, highlight the potential negative consequences of limiting DNA collection. They argue that such measures would weaken law enforcement's ability to hold young offenders accountable and reduce recidivism rates. Research by criminologist Jennifer Doleac indicates that DNA databases significantly deter crime, especially among younger and first-time offenders, by promoting accountability and encouraging positive life choices. The ongoing debate underscores the complex challenges of balancing civil liberties with effective crime prevention strategies in New York City.

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RATING

5.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article presents a timely and relevant discussion on the NYPD's DNA collection practices and their implications for public safety and juvenile crime. It effectively highlights the potential benefits of these practices, particularly their deterrent effects as supported by criminologist research. However, the article's accuracy is somewhat limited by a lack of verifiable sources and direct citations, which affects its credibility.

The article's balance is skewed towards supporting the NYPD's position, with limited representation of opposing viewpoints. This one-sided presentation may hinder its ability to fully engage readers and stimulate comprehensive discussion. Additionally, the transparency of the article is limited by the absence of clear sourcing and disclosure of potential biases.

Despite these limitations, the article addresses issues of significant public interest and has the potential to influence public opinion and drive meaningful debate. By incorporating diverse perspectives and enhancing transparency, the article could provide a more balanced and authoritative analysis of the complex issues surrounding DNA collection and juvenile justice.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article presents several factual claims that require verification, such as the 71% increase in NYC minors victimized by major crimes over the past half-decade, and the rise in juvenile arrests for various offenses. While these claims are specific, they need corroboration from official NYPD statistics or other reliable sources to ensure their accuracy.

The article also discusses the NYPD's DNA collection practices, stating that DNA is collected only in serious felony cases, primarily gun-related arrests. This claim should be verified against NYPD policies to confirm its accuracy. Additionally, the article cites research by criminologist Jennifer Doleac on the deterrent effects of DNA databases, which should be cross-referenced with her published studies to ensure the findings are accurately represented.

Overall, while the article provides detailed claims and statistics, the lack of direct citations or references to supporting data limits its factual accuracy. The claims could be more reliable if backed by verifiable sources and data.

5
Balance

The article predominantly presents a perspective in favor of the NYPD's DNA collection practices, emphasizing their role in deterring crime and supporting public safety. It critiques the New York City Council's stance against these practices without providing a balanced view of the council's rationale or potential ethical concerns related to collecting DNA from minors.

There is a noticeable lack of representation of opposing viewpoints, such as privacy concerns or the potential for misuse of DNA data. The article quotes councilmembers and activists who oppose the practice but dismisses their concerns without a thorough exploration of their arguments.

To achieve balance, the article could include more perspectives from legal experts, privacy advocates, or community leaders who might provide a more nuanced view of the implications of DNA collection.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its language and structure, presenting its arguments in a straightforward manner. It uses specific examples and statistics to support its claims, which helps convey the message effectively.

However, the tone is somewhat biased, as it strongly advocates for the NYPD's DNA collection practices without thoroughly exploring opposing viewpoints. This could affect the neutrality of the presentation and may lead to a perception of one-sidedness.

Overall, while the article is easy to read and understand, a more balanced tone and inclusion of diverse perspectives would enhance its clarity and comprehensiveness.

4
Source quality

The article lacks direct attribution to specific sources or data, relying instead on general references to NYPD statistics and criminologist Jennifer Doleac's research. Without direct citations or links to these sources, it is challenging to assess the credibility and reliability of the information presented.

The article would benefit from referencing official reports, studies, or statements from credible institutions to enhance its source quality. Additionally, including a variety of sources, such as academic experts, law enforcement officials, and community representatives, would provide a more comprehensive and authoritative basis for the claims made.

3
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in its sourcing and methodology, failing to disclose the basis for many of its claims. It does not provide links or references to the data or studies it mentions, making it difficult for readers to verify the information independently.

There is also a lack of context regarding the potential biases or conflicts of interest of the author, who is described as a policing and public safety policy expert and former NYPD senior counterterrorism analyst. This background could influence the author's perspective, but the article does not disclose this potential conflict.

Improved transparency would involve clearly stating the sources of data and research, explaining the methodology behind the claims, and acknowledging any potential biases that could affect the article's impartiality.

Sources

  1. https://gothamist.com/news/how-juveniles-get-caught-up-in-the-nypds-vast-dna-dragnet
  2. https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=409160%3Futm_source%3Dakdart
  3. https://theappeal.org/judge-attacks-nypd-practice-of-seizing-teens-dna-without-parental-consent/
  4. http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=380155%3Futm_source%3Dakdart
  5. https://www.stopspying.org/genetic-surveillance