IntroductionDNA testing has been the focus of attention in many criminal justice cases. Correctional centers across the United States have used the DNA testing process. Seventeen death row inmates have been exempted from using these tests. Earl Washington was convicted of rape and murder in 1984. Although he confessed to the rape, he was also diagnosed as mentally retarded. In October 2000 Mr Washington underwent a DNA test and was ruled out as a rapist and murderer. The governor of Virginia pardoned Mr. Washington after he served 16 years in prison, 14 of them on death row (ACLU, 2011). DNA testing has become the rule rather than the exception; but what happens to DNA after a person is acquitted, fired or exonerated. Where does DNA go to die or does it? Is the DNA destroyed or stored in various databases for further recovery and use? In 2010, the United States Congress began a campaign to encourage states to require DNA collection from suspects, regardless of whether they had been charged with a crime or not. In the case of S. and Marper v. United Kingdom found that the retention of the applicants' fingerprints, cellular samples and DNA profiles violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In the United States, does creating a policy requiring suspects' DNA help find subsequent criminals or is it simply leading to a track and trace policy? Collecting and Preserving DNA Collecting DNA in an investigation is most often used to determine who the perpetrator(s) may be involved in a crime. There has been rapid growth since its inception and legal and ethical questions have arisen. In the double-edged double helix... in the center of the paper... the Council of Europe on the European Convention on Human Rights and its five protocols. This document includes the preamble and articles on human rights laws.Mercedes, C. (2008, August 1). Sean Vincent Gillis. Cheryl Mercedes is a news anchor and reporter for WAFB TV in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. WAFB. (2007). The public defender's office is asking to be removed from the Gillis case. Retrieved from WAFB channel 9Nakashima, E., & Hsu, S. (2008, April 17). US expands collection of DNA from crime suspects. Excerpt from the Washington Post: Ellen Nashima is a national security reporter for the Washington Post. Focuses on issues related to intelligence, technology, and civil liberties.Silvestein,J. (April 3, 2013) The collection The Dark Side of DNA was written by Jason Silverstein, a doctoral student in anthropology at Harvard University. He currently works in the research field.