It's technology that has resulted in justice for murder cases in California and Colorado.

Now, local law enforcement agencies are hoping to use it in Virginia.

Sgt. Kelly Walker, with the Waynesboro Police Department, says, "What it will do is open up more cases for prosecution and bring them to a logical conclusion."

Walker is referring to familial DNA testing.

Forensic scientists can scan DNA collected at the scene of a crime and find near matches, or family members of a potential suspect.

Walker adds, "It doesn't point the finger at one person, but it narrows the field of suspects for the police."

He says police departments and prosecutors have pushed for the technology, but some groups argue that the technique is an invasion of privacy.

Steve Benjamin with the Virginia Forensic Science Board says the concern is nonsense.

"It's child's play to collect an individual's DNA," argues Benjamin. "I don't buy that there is a privacy interest in DNA that we need to be concerned about."

Benjamin is also a criminal defense attorney, who has worked for the last three years to bring familial testing to the Commonwealth.

Along with privacy, he refutes claims that the testing would be a financial burden on the state.

Benjamin says, "The cost of catching a dangerous criminal really doesn't matter to a future victim."

The Virginia Forensic Science Board met in Richmond Wednesday.

It is asking the forensics department to gather more information on the technology before its next presentation to the board in October.

© Copyright 2012 WHSV / Gray Television Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.