Jillian Hoffman
Mr. Ippolito
Forensics C odd/Current event#2
September 12, 2019
Citation:
Randle, Aaron. “Why N.Y.P.D'S DNA DataBase Has Some People Worried.” 2019.
In this New York Times article by Aaron Ranedel, he raises a privacy and trust concern that is scaring many New Yorker’s. Randle talks about how N.Y.P.D is growing their database known as the local DNA index system and it has 82,473 profiles an increased 29 percent in the past two years.
As concerning as it may be for New Yorkers, the NYPD stated that they have more than 31,000 profiles of children and adults who had been previously suspected, but not convicted in a crime. They further said that they have used these profiles to solve over 270 cases that later occurred. For an example, NYPD stated in 2014 a man was convicted of raping a woman, they were able to conclude the DNA his after it was previously found in another robbery and, they had his DNA on file. Chief of the forensic science in Brooklyn said “Without having that resource, we would never have been able to identify one of the attackers in that case”. Therefore, the NYPD’s argument for randomly collecting DNA is believed to have benefited the people of New York City.
However, a man named Eric Bellamy to reporters he was disturbed when NYPD came to his house in 2016 with our a warrant saying they needed his DNA to clear him from a crime. Another man named Maurice Syllas said said detectives came to his home and started asking about his family's imagration, stating “No reason to invade my privacy,” he said. Many are arguing that it comes down to the matter of privacy and respect for one's personal information and the relevance of that information to the investigation to a current crime.
Overall, I found the article’s subject matter to be interesting; and it's hard to decide which side to standby as one help solves serious crimes such as sexual assault and homicide, it may also invade some privacy by capturing more information than necessary. While I thought the article was well written could have used more substance to build a better argument for a specific side.
4 comments:
Maggie O’Hare
Mr. Ippolito Forensics
9/25/19
Current Event 3
Randle, Aaron. “Why the N.Y.P.D.'s DNA Database Has Some People Worried.” The New York Times,
The New York Times, 16 Aug. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/08/16/nyregion/newyorktoday/nyp d-dna- database.html?searchResultPosition=1.
In Jillian’s review, I thought it was good that she included both sides of this recent argument and not only the one she agreed with. I also liked that she included different cases with statistics. This made her review more interesting. The last point I want to mention is that she included that it is difficult to pick a side in this argument because they both have good things about them such as solving crimes bu it can invade people’s lives. I thought it was a smart idea just to quickly sum up what she was trying to say in the review.
I wish that she gave a bit more introduction to the topic in the beginning of the review. It was short and I just wish she had gone a bit more in-depth because it is a very interesting topic. Overall, I wish she did go a bit more in-depth and talk a little bit more about different cases or just wrote a bit more about the topic.
I thought it was a very informative review and I learned two different sides to an argument that I had already chosen a side on but now I have slightly changed my mind based on some of the stories mentioned in this review.
Charlotte Cagliostro
Ippolito
Forensics C Odd / Current Event 3
9/26/19
Randle, Aaron. “Why N.Y.P.D'S DNA DataBase Has Some People Worried.” 2019.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/16/nyregion/newyorktoday/nypd-dna-database.html?searchResultPosition=1
Jillian wrote a compelling article about a pressing issue, one that is incredibly relevant for New Yorkers. In particular, there are three parts of her review that I liked. First, I liked her introduction to the summary of Aaron Randle’s article. She did a great job grabbing my attention and drawing me into the article. Second, I think she presented the topic as a whole exceptionally well. Writing about the New York police department and state laws is quite difficult because one must be factually accurate, which Jillin was. Lastly, I liked her conclusion. She did a nice job finishing her piece and critiquing the original article.
There were two aspects of Jillin’s article that I was not too fond of. First, I think that she could have expanded on her ideas in every paragraph. In my opinion, there was a lot more to say and such additional analysis would significantly improve the piece. Second, I think she could have spoken to the relevance of the article’s subject matter. The use of DNA analysis and the expansion of the databases that contain these samples is a pressing issue that deserves more explanation.
I learned a lot about DNA analysis and the changes in New York policy regarding the storage of these samples through reading Jillian’s review. I find the topic incredibly interesting, so I enjoyed reading her work. I find it astonishing that the databases hold over 31,000 samples.
Molly Palma
Mr. Ippolito
Forensics C-Odd
Current Event 4
Randle, Aaron. “Why N.Y.P.D'S DNA DataBase Has Some People Worried.” 2019.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/16/nyregion/newyorktoday/nypd-dna-database.html?searchResultPosition=1
The reviewer used statistics to her advantage, especially when she used one in her introduction, “N.Y.P.D is growing their database known as the local DNA index system and it has 82,473 profiles an increased 29 percent in the past two years”. This sets the tone for the entire review, a more objective perspective that looks only at the facts and points made by the author herself. This reviewer does a good job providing both sides of the argument regarding the use of DNA in police agencies. The reviewer’s most impactful statement is “as concerning as it may be for New Yorkers, the NYPD stated that they have more than 31,000 profiles of children and adults who had been previously suspected, but not convicted in a crime”. She uses the rhetorical appeal of pathos to explain that DNA testing can help solve ‘unsolved’ crimes. The reviewer used this rhetorical appeal again when the facts become slanted to the other side, giving quotes by regular men who lived in the city (ex: Eric Bellemy and Maurice Syllas), which showed this can affect anyone and everyone. Lastly, the reviewer was able to say everything she wanted to without rambling on which is a natural flaw in writing like this.
I do think the reviewer’s conclusion was wrapped up too quickly. It lacked the care that she gave for the rest of the review. She could’ve been a little less repetitive considering her conclusion only had two sentences in it. The reviewer also said that she wished the article would have focused on one side over the other. To pull the review together, it would’ve been nice if the reviewer said “even though there wasn’t enough ‘substance to build a better argument for a specific side’, here’s what I think: …”.
This review was very much relevant. I know some of my friends won’t use DNA sites, like 23 and Me, because they feel as though it will come back to haunt them: they believe they will be charged with something they didn’t even do. Even though the DNA database can be argued as invasive, this is the police force’s way of bringing out justice. Until there’s proof that the government is taking advantage of the information, I believe that it’s important that we use this method. This review articulates the reasons why I feel that way and I appreciate it. I wonder now what the governor thinks of this and if he has the power over the situation. This review has made me curious and I will be doing further research as a result.
Sophia Prior
Mr.Ippolito
Forensics
October 28, 2019
Citation:
Randle, Aaron. “Why N.Y.P.D'S DNA DataBase Has Some People Worried.” 2019.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/16/nyregion/newyorktoday/nypd-dna-database.html?searchResultPosition=1
After reading Jillian’s post I really thought she did a good job stating and supporting her argument in the first paragraph. In addition, she did a good job integrating quotes into her review, as well as summarizing the article in the first paragraph. Also, her use of statistics the further her claim was well written. I agree with her claim of it being hard to pick a side because after reading what she reported from the article I can understand this point she made in the third paragraph. Overall Jillian did a good job of stating her claim and providing evidence to support her claim.
I think that Jillian could have improved on adding her own opinion to the piece. Although she did an excellent job explaining what the New York Times had said she could have added more of her own thoughts throughout her piece. She could have expanded more on the use of DNA analysis as it is a very important topic currently. Especially as New Yorkers this issue directly affects the people of New York.
I learned a lot about DNA analysis and the NYPD’s argument for randomly collecting DNA. Jillian gave an in-depth review and really expanded my knowledge on the use of DNA and DNA databases.
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