Assessing awareness and acceptance of storing DNA profile in forensic DNA databank Malaysia

• Published in: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
• Main Author: Nawani S.B.M.; Khamis K.A.; Zakaria Z.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: SPIE 2023
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85181402343&doi=10.1117%2f12.3011774&partnerID=40&md5=63050f94e88ffb55d189d29c2b207b98

The Forensic DNA Databank of Malaysia (FDDM) was formally established in December 2015 in solving crimes and upholding justice. Although the awareness among the people is increasing with government efforts, the public still has some misconceptions and concerns about collection, storage, and utilization of DNA samples and data. Hence, the study tries to assess the awareness and acceptance on the benefits and risks of profile storage in forensic DNA data banks. A few informants under qualitative method were selected public, the practitioners from Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), Department of Chemistry and Deputy Public Prosecutor. This study uses the thematic analysis method, and the results of the study are quite surprising. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) shows that the informant's understanding is still low regarding the benefits and risks of storing DNA profiles in forensic DNA data banks. It certainly raises the question of how the Malaysian forensic DNA data bank is sustainable in the eyes of the people if the practitioners themselves in the relevant agencies have a low level of understanding. Thus, the government can have the collaboration with all crucial government agencies, including the department of chemistry, the attorney general's office, the police, and the courts. In future studies, it is hoped that studies related to perspectives on the benefits and risks of storing DNA profiles in forensic DNA data banks will be expanded among other related public authorities and using mixed methodological methods in data collection to see a broader perspective. © 2023 SPIE.