The US Supreme Court on Monday upheld the power of law enforcement officers to take DNA samples from suspects of serious crimes, saying it's no different than fingerprinting or mug shots. In a 5-4 decision, the highest court in the nation reinstated the 2003 rape conviction of a Maryland man that hinged on DNA collected when he was taken into custody in an unrelated assault case six years later. "DNA identification of arrestees is a reasonable search that can be considered part of a routine booking procedure," said Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority.

OTTAWA - A West Coast RCMP lab that analyzes crime-related DNA samples is slow to deliver results, sometimes impeding court cases, says a new review. "It took between three to four months for a DNA result from the time a sample was sent to the lab," says the study of the Vancouver lab, ordered by the federal Justice Department. "Investigators felt that the average turnaround time was simply too long, and that it could be improved upon. ..."

Samsung could be following Apple’s lead and testing biometric technology for future handsets.

A Justice Ministry panel of experts proposed Monday to introduce a system of "trusted travelers" to simplify Japan's immigration checks for foreign visitors deemed unlikely to be a terrorist or criminal, ministry officials said. The panel on immigration system submitted the proposal to Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki as a way to lure tourists and businesspeople to visit Japan and help vitalize the economy, the officials said.