National DNA Index System

Overview
The National DNA Index System (NDIS) is one part of CODIS &mdash; the national level &mdash; containing the DNA profiles contributed by federal, state, and local participating forensic laboratories. NDIS was implemented in October 1998. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, the federal government, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory, and Puerto Rico participate in NDIS. The DNA Identification Act of 1994 authorized the establishment of this DNA index.

The DNA Identification Act of 1994 authorized the establishment of this DNA index. The Act specifies the categories of data that may be maintained in NDIS (convicted offenders, arrestees, legal detainees, forensic (casework), unidentified human remains, missing persons and relatives of missing persons, as well as requirements for participating laboratories relating to quality assurance, privacy and expungement.