What is necessary (and unnecessary) for analyses of offender databases (Dr. Jason Gilder, Forensic Bioinformatics)

CODIS uses two indexes to generate investigative leads where biological evidence is recovered. The Convicted Offender Index contains DNA profiles of those charged with felony sex offenses and other violent crimes. The Forensic Index contains DNA profiles from crime scene evidence, such as samples of hair, semen or blood, where victims or suspects have not yet been identified.

The CODIS records are stored in a Microsoft SQL Server 6.5 database that resides on a pair of 200-MHz dual Compaq ProLiant 6500 servers each with 1G of RAM and a 20G hard drive, said Steve Niezgoda, CODIS program manager. The FBI’s servers are housed in a secret location, Herkenham said.

The FBI runs CODIS under Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, and bureau users access it from PCs running Windows 95.

Materials

Presentation

Federal Bureau of Investigation. Appendix F: Common message format for CODIS. CODIS Interface Specification (CMF 2.5) for Contract Laboratories. February 1, 2000.

DH Kaye. Please, let's bury the junk: The CODIS loci and the revelation of private information. Northwestern University Law Review Colloquy. 2007;102:70-81.

M Mayer. New DNA database extends the long arm of law enforcement. Government Computer News. October 19, 1998.

SQLzoo.net. A gentle introduction to SQL (on-line).