GJPD Collects Fingerprints and DNA from Children

Yesterday, the GJPD showed children from Fun in the Summer Camp the nuts and bolts of police work. Kids played with the sirens, saw the bomb squad robot, police motorcycles, and more.  On the creeper side, the story from KKCO 11, states that “Kids were also fingerprinted and swabbed for DNA samples.”

Why are the police gather biometric data on children? Did they get parental permission? Do they view the youth as the next generation of potential criminals? How is the DNA and fingerprints of these children to be used? What about rights to privacy?