BOSTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The Massachusetts inspector general says the state police DNA data bank includes profiles of people who shouldn't be in the registry.
In a report released Wednesday, the inspector general said the department's crime lab has been holding on to DNA profiles for individuals whose convictions for felonies or misdemeanors were later reversed.
Massachusetts state law specifies that DNA profiles only come from convicted felons.
The Boston Globe said the report did not specify how many profiles were improperly stored, although one state official said the number was around 540.
Civil libertarians said the situation raised the possibility of a "shadow DNA database" that could be used by police and called for a state investigation.
