Belgium, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Italy and Sweden DNA profiles and samples destroyed on acquittal or if criminal proceedings are discontinued

Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands Information retained where suspicions remain about the individual or if further investigation needed in a separate case

Austria Retained where there is a risk that the suspect will commit a dangerous offence

Finland Retention for one year after acquittal

Denmark Retention for ten years after acquittal

France Retention for 25 years after an acquittal or discharge. During this period prosecutor may order earlier removal either at their own or upon request of the individual

Source: European Court of Justice

United States Last month the US Government began adding DNA information collected from arrested, but not convicted, persons and from detained immigrants. The move is expected to increase the yearly growth of the FBI’s DNA database nearly fifteenfold, to 1.2 million new profiles a year.

This year California, the most populous state in the nation, began taking DNA samples upon arrest, a move that will likely double the growth rate of its database. It joins 14 other states and now the federal Government in the practice, which has sparked a great deal of concern from privacy advocates.

Even before the FBI began its current DNA retention policy, expunging profiles of the innocent was never an easy task. Agency officials say they have never received a state request to purge a record from the federal database.

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