The Interactions and Impacts of State DNA Database Laws, United States, 2000-2015 (ICPSR 36519)
Version Date: Jun 26, 2025 View help for published
Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s)
Jennifer L. Doleac, University of Virginia
https://doi.org/10.3886/ICPSR36519.v1
Version V1
Summary View help for Summary
This study collected historical data on state DNA database size and the timing of state DNA database expansions in order to examine any impacts on crime rates.
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Subject Terms View help for Subject Terms
Geographic Coverage View help for Geographic Coverage
Smallest Geographic Unit View help for Smallest Geographic Unit
State
Distributor(s) View help for Distributor(s)
Time Period(s) View help for Time Period(s)
Date of Collection View help for Date of Collection
Data Collection Notes View help for Data Collection Notes
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The P.I. submitted a related deposit to openICPSR which contains the police data referenced in this study.
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The following acronyms are used in this study:
CODIS = Combined DNA Index System
NDIS = National DNA Index System
SDIS = State DNA Index System
Study Purpose View help for Study Purpose
The purpose of this study was to test the effect of other-state DNA profiles on own-state crime rates.
Study Design View help for Study Design
This study uses an instrumental variable strategy. Historical data on state database sizes come from state crime labs, FBI statistics, and media reports. State-level data on arrests, convictions, and prison populations are based on 1999 Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the 1999 National Jail Census. Inter-state distances are based on Google Maps. Outcome measures are based on UCR and National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data.
Time Method View help for Time Method
Universe View help for Universe
State DNA databases
Unit(s) of Observation View help for Unit(s) of Observation
Data Type(s) View help for Data Type(s)
Mode of Data Collection View help for Mode of Data Collection
Description of Variables View help for Description of Variables
DS1 Combined DNA Index System Data 2000-2015 contains 8 variables and 800 cases.
DS2 State DNA Index System Expansion by State contains 13 variables and 50 cases.
DS3 State DNA Index System Expansion by State and Year contains 28 variables and 1,150 cases.
DS4 State DNA Index System Sizes 1990-2014 contains 8 variables and 1,250 cases.
DS5 Prisons Data 1999 contains 29 variables and 46 cases.
DS6 Inter-state Distances contains 51 variables and 50 cases.
HideOriginal Release Date View help for Original Release Date
2025-06-26
Version History View help for Version History
2025-06-26 ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:
- Checked for undocumented or out-of-range codes.
Notes
The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public. Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.
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