Genetic information is so much more potentially devastating than just an ordinary fingerprint. It contains the very road-map to our individual existence - who we are and what we will become, biologically. That's a tremendous amount of information to be in the hands of the state, especially when you haven't yet been convicted of anything, just arrested.
Incidentally, I would argue that keeping fingerprints and a mugshot on file just for an arrest is also a gross invasion of privacy. The gubmit shouldn't be able to maintain any of that information without a conviction, IMHO.
If you're convicted of a crime, then sure, I have no problems with the state maintaining a database that can help to solve other crimes or future crimes.
I did have a second paragraph ya know...
If I can’t land on both sides of an argument, what would be the point of my ambivalence?
Can you say "Gattaca"?