What type of information does CODIS provide?

CODIS, which stands for the Combined DNA Index System, is primarily designed to facilitate the exchange and comparison of DNA profiles from various sources, including convicted individuals and biological evidence collected from crime scenes. By maintaining a database of DNA profiles, CODIS enables law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions to identify potential links between suspects and unsolved cases. This tool is crucial for solving crimes, as it allows for matches between DNA evidence collected at crime scenes and profiles from known individuals, thus aiding in the identification of perpetrators.

In this context, the focus on DNA samples from convicted persons and evidence illustrates CODIS's core function of supporting criminal investigations and addressing public safety concerns through forensic science. The emphasis on DNA profiles makes it clear that CODIS is not concerned with physical descriptions, tracking individuals' movements with GPS, or historical crime data, as those are outside the purview of the system's capabilities.