tree based on exist<strong>in</strong>g records. If a suspect is identified, police can obta<strong>in</strong> a warrant for his DNA, or even gather itsurreptiously from an ab<strong>and</strong>oned dr<strong>in</strong>k or cigarette butt”. 75VII. CONCLUSIONAccused persons have no expectation of privacy <strong>in</strong> <strong>evidence</strong> they ab<strong>and</strong>on <strong>in</strong> a public place. They will, however, havean expectation of privacy <strong>in</strong> items they have on their property <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>side their home. This will not, however, generally<strong>in</strong>clude household trash placed at the curb for collection (especially if the constra<strong>in</strong>ts suggested <strong>in</strong> State of Montana v.1993 Chevrolet Pickup 76 are followed).An accused will also generally not have an expectation of privacy <strong>in</strong> <strong>evidence</strong> voluntarily left beh<strong>in</strong>d at the policestation upon release. However s/he may have an expectation of privacy if s/he is deta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>and</strong> has no choice but todiscard the <strong>evidence</strong> <strong>in</strong>to the State’s garbage can. In these situations, however, a search warrant may be obta<strong>in</strong>ed for77the <strong>evidence</strong> or a General Warrant used to collect a sample us<strong>in</strong>g a simple ruse such as was employed <strong>in</strong> R. v. Nguyen.Nevertheless, collect<strong>in</strong>g items <strong>discarded</strong> directly by the accused <strong>in</strong> a public place is a legal <strong>and</strong> safe way ofobta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a DNA sample. All other methods have their drawbacks, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the seizure of garbage from the curb, asone has no idea to whom any of the items actually belong, <strong>and</strong> one may have to trespass onto private property <strong>in</strong> orderto obta<strong>in</strong> it, whereas if you actually see the accused ab<strong>and</strong>on his/her cigarette butt, juice bottle, mucous, spittle, etc.,you can state that the sample obta<strong>in</strong>ed was from the suspect <strong>in</strong> question.It has been suggested that a special ‘exception’ should be made for <strong>discarded</strong> or ab<strong>and</strong>oned DNA <strong>evidence</strong>because one does not always <strong>in</strong>tend to leave genetic material beh<strong>in</strong>d. 78 However, as rightly noted by Crown AttorneyMichael Fairburn:[P]erpetrators do not <strong>in</strong>tentionally leave their genetic f<strong>in</strong>gerpr<strong>in</strong>t beh<strong>in</strong>d. How would one develop a constitutional exception <strong>in</strong> relationto DNA that would allow a warrantless seizure from a crime scene, but not from a McDonald’s cup? 79However, a compell<strong>in</strong>g case could be made for protect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> possibly crim<strong>in</strong>aliz<strong>in</strong>g the misuse <strong>and</strong> abuse ofgenetic <strong>in</strong>formation surreptitiously collected by employers, <strong>in</strong>surers <strong>and</strong> others for discrim<strong>in</strong>atory purposes. A similarcase can be made where ones right to privacy is violated by ‘trophy hunters’ sell<strong>in</strong>g genetic <strong>in</strong>formation, or <strong>in</strong> othercase where the collection <strong>and</strong> analysis of genetic <strong>in</strong>formation is not <strong>in</strong> the public <strong>in</strong>terest.VIII. EXAMPLES OF ABANDONED / DISCARDED ITEMS WHERE DNA HAS BEENOBTAINEDGumPop cans / bottle rimsUsed StrawsSalivaCombToothbrushUsed pens / pencilsCigarette buttsUsed tissueUnf<strong>in</strong>ished food (half-eaten foods, apple cores, etc.)CutleryCup or dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g glass rimsShirts/Jackets (collars, cuffs, etc)7576777879Maura Dolan <strong>and</strong> Jason Felch, “State offers police extra DNA tool; California will use partial matches from relatives <strong>in</strong> its genetic database totrack down crim<strong>in</strong>als” (April 26, 2008). On-l<strong>in</strong>e at .Supra, note 36. Also see R. v. Kang-Brown supra, note 37.Supra, note 14.See Elizabeth Joh, “Reclaim<strong>in</strong>g ‘Ab<strong>and</strong>oned’ DNA: The Fourth Amendment <strong>and</strong> Genetic Privacy” (2006) 100 Nw. U.L. Rev. 857.Michael Fairburn, “From Wash<strong>in</strong>g Your H<strong>and</strong>s to Blow<strong>in</strong>g Your Nose: The Constitutionality of New Search Techniques” (2005) Section 4.1,National Crim<strong>in</strong>al Law Program h<strong>and</strong>out.
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