THE ROLE OF DNA PROFILING IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION Henry Roberts Jane Taupin and Tony Raymond Victoria Police State Forensic Science Laboratory Victoria Introduction DNA profiling has attracted a good deal of public attention in the last eight years. The practical application of DNA technology to the identification of biological material has had a significant impact on forensic biology, because it enables much stronger conclusions of identity or non-identity to be made. Legislation regulating the taking of blood samples from suspects has been enacted in Victoria (Crimes (Blood Samples) Act 1989; Crimes Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1991), and further amendments are proposed. Databases of DNA profiles are being compiled as an aid to criminal intelligence. Faced with powerful incriminating evidence, defendants are often persuaded to change their plea or else mount a legal challenge to the admissibility of DNA profiling.
Therefore, a compromise must be made because it would be ideological to believe that there can be a government that bans the use of racial identification. Lastly, one must remember that all men are created equal legally and politically. In the field of law enforcement, police officers use certain techniques to describe individuals they pull over or arrest. One of the most controversial means of identifying people is racial profiling. This is “the practice by law enforcement of considering race as an indicator of the likelihood of criminal behavior” (Robinson 530).
Lab Essay Assignment: DNA Technology and Forensics CODIS also known as the Combined DNA Index System is a valuable computer program because it helps keep the country safe from harm by identifying criminals. The program CODIS was created by federal, state, and local crime labs in the U.S. and is financed by the U.S. F.B.I. However, the Combination DNA Index System has many benefits but it also has many concerns. Some of the benefits include that the system would help in identifying suspects or the perpetrator by using a DNA profile that it contains. A DNA profile is a series of numbers which represents the individual.
For example, in the case of a sexual assault where an evidence kit is collected from the victim, a DNA profile of the suspected perpetrator is developed from the swabs in the kit. The forensic unknown profile attributed to the suspected perpetrator is searched against their state database of convicted offender and arrestee profiles (contained within the Convicted Offender and Arrestee Indices, if that state is authorized to collect and database DNA samples from arrestees). If there is a candidate match in the Convicted Offender or Arrestee Index, the laboratory will go through procedures to confirm the match and, if confirmed, will obtain the identity of the suspected perpetrator. The DNA profile from the evidence is also searched against the
Judge Upholds Mandatory DNA Testing for Felony Suspects Maria Sedlock Keiser University Abstract DNA fingerprinting has proved very important in both solving crimes and exonerating the innocent .In California a federal judge ruled that mandatory DNA fingerprinting be collected for all individuals facing federal felony charges. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory G. Hollows upheld the DNA Fingerprint Act. The judge ruled that it was constitutional. The American Civil Liberties Union disagreed with the judge’s ruling. Many of civil libertarians had very strong opinions and think that if the United States would require all citizens to submit DNA fingerprinting it would be a violation of the 4th Amendment United States Constitution.
Here we will be discussing the potential advantages of using Raman spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, compared to the current destructive techniques being used in body fluid analysis. Introduction The ability to detect body fluids at a crime scene is very important in the field of forensic science. Body fluids give insight into the nature of the crime, as well as identify those present at the crime scene. Further DNA analysis of these fluids helps authorities identify the victim and assailant, and provides evidence that can be used to convict the perpetrator. The most common types of body fluids found at crime scenes are blood, semen, and saliva (Virkler and Lednev, June 2008).
According to forensic scientist’s, the strings themselves are not as substantial. However, they are clearly a form to help investigators and analysts draw a closure in reference to a substance that is often found at a crime scene: blood. In addition, the population has been converted to believe blood samples are used to ID someone through DNA. However, the blood in general, where it settled, how it settled, its consistency, the size and form of the blood globule, or spatter can conclude a lot of meaningful aspects of the offense. In addition, analyzing a blood splatter or pattern is not as uncomplicated as fictional bloodstain pattern analysts.
Harsh punishment of this kind would serve as a deterrent for future crimes committed. 3. Peace of mind can be brought to those families devastated by these criminals, with the safety of knowing that these people have no possibility of hurting again. 4. With new technology and DNA testing we can be extra certain that the true criminal will be put to death.
The criminal could also wear gloves so that they wouldn’t leave their prints behind. With the technology to read DNA and match it to a person, it is impossible to not know exactly who committed the crime. Everyone except identical twins have different DNA. It is impossible to change your DNA, so this is the best way to prove either innocence, or guilt. The most common places to get DNA evidence from a crime scene is blood, semen, saliva, urine, or hair.
Also, some new methods of DNA testing have found inmates to be innocent. States are looking into DNA testing to see how accurate it really is and if they are necessary in every Death Row court case. (www.deathpenalty.org) The topic of capital punishment is evident in the world today. The dispute over if it should be allowed or not plays a big role in society. Changes are still being made today to improve the methods and to please the public’s opinion.