Advantages And Disadvantages Of Dna In Criminal Investigation

Improved Essays
Forensic DNA is the process of using and collecting DNA from crime scenes to solve criminal investigations and to ensure accuracy and fairness in the Criminal Justice System. DNA profiling has grown significantly in the past years and has been extremely useful in identifying suspects, criminals and other people involved in the crime. If the suspect is unidentifiable, DNA evidence is compared to a DNA database to identify the criminal. DNA testing has both advantages and disadvantages many of which relate to ethical, emotional, economic and practicality issues. Research states that an increasing number of criminal investigations have used DNA testing to successfully identify the perpetrator.
Serious issues, both positive and negative, arise
…show more content…
As DNA profiling technology advances, DNA evidence is being resubmitted from crimes that were committed years ago and a comprehensive test is conducted to find the potential suspect. Although identifying the perpetrator of the crime may be successful, DNA will have to be taken from other family members. This can cause private information about an individual’s ethnic background or parentage to be available to involved personnel’s which could lead to discrimination. Inaccurate results from DNA evidence has the possibility to put an innocent person to jail. Despite this, small samples are sent to multiple independent labs, which helps to reduce the possibility of an error which affect the final results. As DNA evidence is being passed through multiple labs, the individual’s private DNA information has the potential to be used in different crimes. However, it is stated in an article on “Forensic Databases: benefits and ethical and social costs” that, “Public support has been presumed on the grounds that all law-abiding people want criminals to be caught and convicted and the ‘innocent’ have nothing to fear from DNA technology.” (Forensic Databases: benefits and ethical and social costs, British Medical Bulletin, 2015). It is clear that most of society demands for criminals to be found and people who are deemed not guilty should have nothing to worry …show more content…
(DNA forensics, DNA forensics, 2015). To further improve this system the level of privacy of the DNA profiles on the database should be increased and the number of years in which a DNA profile is kept on the database should be limited to 3-5 years, to ensure that this information is used for criminal investigation only. (Is it ethical to have a National DNA database? YourGenome, 2015) and (Pros and Cons of DNA Profiling, Bright Hub, 2012). The technology involved in DNA testing should also be kept up-to-date to avoid contamination and inaccurate results in identifying the criminal. (How DNA Evidence Works, howstuffworks, 2015). Overall DNA testing should be used to solve criminal investigations, with minor changes to the system, our forensic scientists and other personnel involved in the investigation will obtain accurate results and the worst criminals in our societies will be convicted, making this earth a safer

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    We ought to be appreciative for the headways of innovation that were a key component to determine the long haul case. Deoxyribonucleic corrosive is the all inclusive outline for life on Earth. DNA figures out what individuals look like and how their bodies function. DNA can be utilized to clear suspects and absolve people erroneously blamed or indicted for violations. All things considered DNA innovation is progressively crucial to guaranteeing precision and decency in the criminal equity framework.…

    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Is this a new opportunity for identity theft? Is it ethical to have a database containing the general public's DNA? The Federal Bureau of Investigations claims that by creating and expanding a national DNA database reflects in lower crime rates across the country. On the other hand, a majority of individuals agrees that there should be regulations that structure a software containing a DNA database (Ross). Much like any field of technology ethical concerns continuously create opportunities to improve software in the medical field.…

    • 1275 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This has led to a nationwide debate in whether it is an appropriate protocol to subject an offender’s relative to a DNA sample. Despite the uncertainty, a number of states have begun to incorporate familial searches into their policies. As a result, this process became an issue as it brings forth questions of whether it violates the rights of individuals living within the United States. This paper will discuss the pros and cons of this issue, concluding with my personal opinion.…

    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The cold case that I chose in which DNA played a crucial role was the Nicholas Yarris Case. The incident in this case took place in Pennsylvania in 1981(Innocence Project, 2016). The victim in this case was a woman that worked at a mall and was abducted after she got off from work (Innocence Project, 2016). She was then raped and murder; her body was left in a parking lot of a church (Innocence Project, 2016). Four days later Nicholas Yarris was stopped by the police for a traffic violation (Innocence Project, 2016).…

    • 370 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Dna Crime Lab

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Pages

    In the science text DNA analysis by Forensic Richard Platt. Look at the crime lab and DNA. Analysis look a DNA to fined fingerprint to know who DNA it is. Crime lab’s use DNA to look at crime’s to help and solve. Crime’s lab’s look at DNA that is left behind at the crime.…

    • 117 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Evidence Interpretation

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Evidence Interpretation Over the years, there have been several cases that have been resolved with a false guilty plea or cases where a guilty party was not convicted of a crime. There are various elements that play a role in solving cases; evidence is a one of these key elements. Many factors can determine if the evidence submitted before a court of law is accurate such as how the evidence is collected, if proper protocell was followed before the laboratory’s handling of the evidence, and if the evidences was accurately processed by the crime scene laboratory by various forensic scientists. Furthermore, with the advances in technology in today’s society, various pieces of evidence such a DNA analysis have been considered a crucial element…

    • 1578 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Studies have shown that people are less able to recognize faces of a different race than their own (DNA).” In addition, false and/or forced confession is the biggest cause of wrongful sentencing in homicide cases alone. About 63% of homicide cases have been reopened and their “culprit” exonerated because of DNA testing. “Thirty-three of the DNA exonerees pled guilty to crimes they did not commit (DNA).” Occasionally, investigators will have informants in prison give testimony against someone they believe committed a crime.…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Using DNA to trace people who are suspected of committing a crime has been a major advance in policing. When DNA profiling is used wisely, it can help to convict people who have committed serious crimes or exonerate people who are innocent. However, concerns arise when individuals' tissue samples, computerized DNA profiles, and person data are stored indefinitely on a DNA database. There are concerns that this information could be used in ways that threaten people's individual privacy and rights and that of their families. Policymakers are increasingly coming to grips with legal issues related to taking DNA samples from people who have not been convicted of crimes.…

    • 269 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Court systems have many layers, each one of them trying to filter out the innocent, but it is not enough. Something has to be done to stop the number of wrongfully convicted individuals from rising, and release all of the innocent citizens already in jail. DNA evidence can be unreliable and easily tampered with. DNA can become contaminated at a crime scene, or in a lab. This occurs when procedures are not followed correctly, or when the DNA is exposed to harsh conditions.…

    • 1491 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The National Institute of Justice’s article “Extending Time to Collect DNA in Sexual Assault Cases” explains the usage of DNA profiling in identifying a suspect in a sexual assault case, but the current standard DNA profiling methods have different shortcomings. DNA profiles often require the use of short sequences that repeat a number of times, called short tandem repeats (STRs). With the current DNA profiling method, many jurisdictions require the samples to be collected within three days of the sexual assault. This is due to the protocol of various jurisdictions. However, recent research suggests that a viable analysis is still possible after 5-6 days after the incident.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    One lady in a New York Prison was forced to be placed through a DNA test because she was detained for one night. Each person that stays at this prison in New York is forced to give DNA, which could pile up a huge amount of prisoners’ DNA. The author, Leslie Orloff, claims that the denial of prisoners to determine whether they want to be placed through a DNA test is clogging up the system with unnecessary DNA…

    • 1632 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Wrongful Convictions

    • 928 Words
    • 4 Pages

    We need to take more steps into ensuring that DNA is handled properly so that innocent people don’t have to suffer. Our justice system needs to do a better job of making sure that things aren’t being contaminated, people aren’t being framed, or anything else isn’t going wrong with DNA being used to incarcerate someone. A person’s life is at risk, this issue should be more…

    • 928 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    We now can interpret biological evidence that has been left at the crime, by comparing the suspect’s DNA to that left at the scene (Lawyers). Therefore, the court no longer has false accusations when it comes to accusing someone of…

    • 952 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The American Academy of Forensic Sciences is a professional website that was founded in 1948. The purpose of this American Academy of Forensic Sciences community is to provide information towards leadership of science, and the knowledge about the legal system. This community was developed to inform and educated everyone about their knowledge about this program, and to help them gather information on that specific subject of forensic science. It is searching for people that will join their community. These people need to have, or had engaged in the field of the forensic science and these people should believe of contribuis tessential to their time to advance the science through videos, newspaper, and articles.…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    1. What is your thesis statement? Innocent individuals have been wrongfully convicted for crimes that they did not commit. This has happened in the past, before DNA technology was available, however, it continues to happen today. Some people have spent several months behind bars, while others have spent decades behind bars, all while being innocent.…

    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays