Just another step in becoming a police state.

By Tim Lee | June 17, 2008 9:00 AM

RE: Tim

It's all such a horrible thing until the day comes that you are victimized in some tremendous way by someone who falls under the "juvenile" category... at which time I have a feeling you will be thankful to have such a database. Juveniles commit murders all the time and are least likely to be looked at with suspicion... let's hope this database never has to convict a murderer; but in 2008, it's better to embrace technology and hope it's never needed, than to assume all children are angels and let one get away with murder. or some other form of heinous crime.

By Lonna Brown | June 17, 2008 9:44 PM

Lonna:

Applying your logic, let's keep all of the youth under constant supervision to they can't commit crimes. I will never understand why the innocent have to be grouped together with the guilty. You're making the assumption that ALL youths commit crime so they must all be registered and monitored. Why not make the penalties for crime so harsh they the penalties are the deterrent? Wait, that would require effort on the part of police to actually do some detective work and catch criminals. What was I thinking? Let's register everyone so when a crime is committed we can check the computers and see who did it. I will not live in a police state. That's what is becoming of The Netherlands, and that is one reason I'm leaving.

By Tim Lee | June 18, 2008 9:38 AM

RE: Tim

I never once said nor implied that ALL youth should be put on file; that would be absolutely ridiculous! I was however, talking about the same kids that the news article was talking about...

Here is the snippet in which I was referring to:

Since 2005, everyone convicted of a crime punishable by four years or more in jail must give a dna sample. This is kept on the data base for 20 years.

The dna database was set up to keep a check on hardened criminals but it is also being used to register the under-16s sentenced to community service, says BNR.

So yes, with my logic, let's keep THOSE youth monitored. THOSE youth need an extra pair of eyes kept on them... but most certainly not ALL youth.

By Lonna Brown | June 18, 2008 5:31 PM

Lonna,

Given that the database was created to track offenders who have been sentenced to 4 years in jail to offenders who have received community service, how long can it be until ALL children are registered in this database? That was the point I was trying to make.

By Tim Lee | June 19, 2008 8:55 AM