DNA Criminal Database in Mashhad

In order to complete the first phase of the country’s genetic information database project, the first forensic genetics laboratory to collect DNA samples of criminals was launched in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi Province on Sunday, said Seyed Ariya Hejazi, director general of the provincial Legal Medicine Organization. “Genetic information database will help check criminals from committing repeated offenses,” he said. It can act as a crime prevention tool since it can help restrain criminals from committing repeated offenses for fear of being caught, IRNA reported. Statistics show that 12% of criminals resort to committing crimes within a year of the previous offense, and 48% repeat their crimes after a gap of five years.