Box 1.

Mock scenarios of DNA applications.

A.	In Guatemala, children have been sold for purposes of international adoption, prompting closure of several adoption programs and resulting in an abundance of orphans. DNA samples from children being considered for adoption and residing in orphanages may be collected for comparison to samples collected from families in villages with reported missing children. The program would be intended to assist with identification of stolen children before they are placed for international adoption.
B.	In Sierra Leone, victims’ advocates are recovering groups of trafficked child soldiers and attempting to identify the children and their families for reunification. DNA samples from children may be collected for comparison to samples collected from families in villages with missing children. The program would be intended to assist with rapid and reliable identification of human trafficking victims.
C.	In Texas, the High Risk Potential Victims DNA Database is a voluntary DNA collection program for sex workers completing a prostitute diversion program run by the local police department in partnership with social services. DNA samples from consenting individuals are collected and stored in a repository at a local university. The program is intended to assist with post-mortem identification of sex workers likely to be victims of serial crime in Texas. Samples remain unprocessed until law enforcement suspects that a violent crime, homicide, or missing persons case may be connected to an individual sampled. A database of DNA profiles from sex workers also could be useful for identifying missing persons and victims of human trafficking if a second sample were collected for comparison to the nation-wide missing persons database.