As forensic DNA analysis became more accepted by the police and the courts, the next step was to begin the data banking of the DNA profiles from crime scenes and convicted offenders, similar to what was already being done with fingerprints. A consultation process began throughout Canada in 1996 and culminated with the introduction of legislation in September 1998 that mandated the establishment of the NDDB. The NDDB began operating on June 30, 2000, receiving convicted offender DNA samples and crime-scene DNA profiles. The role of the NDDB is to provide investigative leads in unsolved crimes. This is done by comparing the Convicted Offender Index (COI) and the Crime Scene Index (CSI) to a search for matches between DNA profiles of convicted offenders and those from unsolved crimes. Also, CSI profiles from the various forensic laboratories are compared in the effort to link crimes and identify serial offenders. When a match is made between a DNA profile in the COI and a DNA profile from an unsolved crime in the CSI, the NDDB forwards the match data of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Information and Identification Services, which then forwards the relevant information on the convicted offender to the forensic laboratory that submitted the crime scene sample, which in turn forwards the information to the appropriate investigator. As of March 31, 2006, the NDDB had provided investigative leads in over 4,900 cases. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 4 references