Crime Prevention Through DNA Evidence

The Role of DNA Evidence in Crime Prevention

Introduction

Like the traditional fingerprints , DNA evidence can help exculpate innocent suspects and incriminate the guilty . Police try to match DNA patterns of blood , hair , or semen stains found at the scene of a crime to past offenders . DNA evidence was first used in a criminal case in 1985 . For about a decade and a half now , it has been possible to match body fluid traces left by a suspect at crime scene with samples taken from a suspect , using DNA analysis . The technology

is becoming more sophisticated , inexpensive and expeditious every year . Since the early nineteen nineties , the police have been granted new powers enabling them to build up a national DNA database containing the genetic details of individuals . The establishment and growth of a DNA database of criminal population is often regarded as the most significant of recent scientific developments in the prosecution of crime

A strong deterrent to crime

The importance of biological evidence has grown rapidly in the past two decades . Eyewitness accounts have often been viewed as unreliable or biased , and the courts have looked for more objective criteria to determine guilt or innocence . DNA analysis may independently and objectively link a suspect or victim to a scene or to each other . The police have powers to take bodily samples form a suspect for the purpose of analysis and comparison with any samples found at the scene of the crime . A suspect may be identified by undertaking a speculative search to confirm whether there is a match between a crime stain and details already held on the DNA database of a previously convicted individual . A match will be expressed in terms of a mathematical probability of coincidence between the crime stain and the bodily sample of the suspect . The increased threat of being identified can thus become a potent discouragement to potential criminals (Balding 2005

DNA evidence not only increases the certainty of detection of criminal offenders , it also simplifies and enhances the swiftness of process of identifying criminals . Equally important is that innocent people can be cleared of crimes by the evidence , and there have been scores of individuals whose lives were saved when their convictions for crimes including murder and rape were reversed based on DNA evidence , even after serving years of undeserved sentence . Thanks to the increasing role played by DNA techniques in crime detection , there are greater chances today more than ever for justice to be delivered , and delivered in time . The rise of numerous types of violent crimes is kept under check by means of DNA analysis

Growing acceptability and popularity

DNA matching has proven to be the deciding factor in solving a great number of crimes in recent years , especially sexual assault cases . It has revolutionized the criminal justice system and brought closure and justice for victims . Federal , state , and local lawmakers have begun to focus attention on DNA evidence and ensure that the crime-fighting professionals , including forensic experts , have adequate...