CODIS Brochure

CODIS Brochure

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CODIS: COMBINED DNA INDEX SYSTEM

The FBI Laboratory’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) blends forensic Science and computer technology into an effective tool for solving crime.

CODIS
The FBI Laboratory’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) began as a pilot software project in 1990 serving 14 state and local laboratories. The DNA Identification Act of 1994 formalized the FBI’s authority to establish a national DNA Index System (NDIS) for law enforcement purposes.  Today, over 180 public law enforcement laboratories participate in NDIS across the United States.  Internationally, more than 60 law enforcement laboratories in over 30 countries use the CODIS software for their own database initiatives.  International laboratories using the CODIS software do not have any connectivity to the United States CODIS system.

Crime
CODIS generates investigative leads in cases where biological evidence is recovered from the crime scene.  Matches made among profiles in the Forensic Index can link crime scenes together; possibly identifying serial offenders.  Based upon a match, police from multiple jurisdictions can coordinate their respective investigations and share the leads they developed independently.   Matches made between the Forensic and Offender Indexes provide investigators with the identity of a suspected perpetrator(s).  Since names and other personally identifiable information are not stored at NDIS, qualified DNA analysts in the laboratories sharing matching profiles contact each other to confirm the candidate match.

Several Indexes Categorize the Profiles Entered into CODIS

• Convicted Offender – contains DNA profiles of individuals convicted of crimes.
• Arrestees – contains profiles of arrested persons (if state law permits the collection of arrestee samples).
• Forensic – contains DNA profiles developed from crime scene evidence, such as semen stains or blood.
• Missing Persons – contains DNA reference profiles from missing persons.
• Biological Relatives of Missing Persons – contains DNA profiles voluntarily contributed from relatives of missing persons.
• Unidentified Humans (Remains) – contains DNA profiles developed from unidentified humans and remains.

Nuclear DNA
Nuclear DNA is found in the nucleus of the cell.  It is inherited from both the mother and the father.  Nuclear DNA analysis targets areas of the nuclear DNA called Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) for entry into CODIS.  Nuclear DNA can be found in samples from blood, semen, bones, cigarette butts, shirt collars, hats, weapons, bottles and envelopes, etc.  CODIS allows for the entry of 13 core STR loci into indexes based on specimen categories.  For questions concerning nuclear DNA analysis, please contact the Nuclear DNA Unit at 703-632-8446.

mtDNA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is found in the mitochondria of the cell.  It is inherited only from the mother.  Mitochondrial DNA is generally extracted from biological items of evidence such as hair, bones, and teeth.  Typically, these samples contain low concentrations of degraded DNA, often making them unsuitable for nuclear DNA examinations.  The aspect of maternal inheritance is useful in missing persons cases where direct DNA reference samples are not available, but since multiple can have the same mtDNA type, unique identifications are not possible using only mtDNA analyses.  CODIS allows for the entry of mtDNA only in the missing persons related indexes.  For questions concerning mtDNA analysis, please contact the Mitochondrial DNA Unit at 703-632-7572.

Missing Persons
In 2000 the FBI Laboratory developed the National Missing Person DNA Database (NMPDD) Program for the identification of missing and unidentified persons.

STR, Y-STR and mtDNA can be entered into the Missing Persons indexes of CODIS.  Efforts to enhance kinship analysis for missing persons data is a top priority of the CODIS Program.  Once fully implemented, these enhancements will provide investigators with a powerful tool in the identification of missing and unidentified persons on a national level.  For questions concerning missing persons cases contact he Nuclear DNA Unit at 703-632-8446 or the Mitochondrial DNA Unit at 703-632-7572.

NMPDD uses 3 indexes in NDIS to enter DNA profiles that can be searched against each other

• Unidentified Human (Remains)
• Missing Persons
• Biological Relatives of Missing Persons

CODIS: The Next Generation
Through the combination of increased Federal funding and expanded database laws, such as the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005, the number of profiles in NDIS has and will continue to increase dramatically. The next generation of CODIS will be a user-friendly, multi-functional software program capable of efficiently processing large databases. The software will also provide enhanced kinship analysis for use in missing person and disaster victim identification by utilizing not only STR, Y-STR, and mtDNA information but also meta data (such as gender, age, date of last sighting, etc.).The FBI Laboratory is committed to the support of the CODIS program. With the continued cooperation and collaboration of legislative bodies and all components of the criminal justice community - law enforcement, crime laboratories, victims, prosecutors and the judiciary - the future of DNA,CODIS, and NDIS holds even greater promise to solve crime and identify the missing and unidentified.

CODIS Architecture

CODIS Supports:
National DNA Index System (NDIS) – NDIS is the highest level in the CODIS hierarchy, and enables the laboratories participating in the program to exchange and compare DNA profiles on the national level.
State DNA Index System (SDIS) – SDIS allows laboratories within state to exchange DNA profiles.
Local DNA Index System (LDIS) – All DNA profiles originate at LDIS, and then flow to SDIS and NDIS.

Contacts

CODIS Unit
703-632-8315

Nuclear DNA Unit
703-632-8446

Mitochondrial DNA Unit
703-632-7572

Federal DNA Database Unit
703-632-7529