Caitlin Owen
23 September 2012
Term Paper 2
Abstract
DNA testing and its use in crime analysis is still fairly new, but is rising quickly
challenges presented by situations in the Criminal Justice field. DNA analysis is an underutilized
tool due to the lack of collection from suspects and the limited number of victims with evidence
from the attacker’s. Few cases have DNA at the scene, which makes rape cases difficult to
present at trial, semen found on the victim is usually required. The major issue with solving rape
cases is that most are not reported, leaving lots of untested DNA and criminals going
unpunished. Lack of knowledge about DNA has accumulated many unsolved cases, and leads to
improper storage and limited collection from either suspect or victim. When it comes to high
stress situations, the victims’ memory is called into question because identification is already
difficult without undergoing a trauma. There are many innocent persons in prison due to
eyewitness misidentification in rape cases that include DNA evidence. Many of these cases took
place before analysis became common practice, but they cannot afford to pay for the testing that
could exonerate them. The Innocence Project has aided in the exoneration of many falsely
imprisoned people, but there are still so many in prisons and only so much the organization can
do to help. Raising awareness is the first step in reducing the number of false imprisonments, and
making DNA testing commonplace, rather than something that is either ignored or occurring post
hoc.
Annotated Bibliography
Hampikian, G., West, E., & Akselrod, O. (2011). The Genetics of Innocence: Analysis of 194
U.S. DNA Exonerations. Annual Review Of Genomics & Human Genetics, 12(1), 97-120.
The source is used because it outlines some of the factors related to wrongful convictions.
Kader, M., Ling, S., & Ling Li, S. (2011). THE USE OF DNA FORENSIC EVIDENCE IN
CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Singapore Law Review, 2935.
This source helps to outline DNA’s importance in the criminal justice field.
Kong, K. S., & Ng, E. K. (2008). An integrated software tool for detecting criminals using DNA
databases. Journal Of Computational Methods In Sciences & Engineering, 8(1/2), 21-49.
This source has to do with the importance of DNA databases and the ways they have helped to
solve cases.
Martina, N., Hanna, A., Max, I., & Marie, A. (n.d). Evaluation of mitochondrial DNA coding
region assays for increased discrimination in forensic analysis. Forensic Science
International: Genetics, 21-8.
This source shows that there are various ways to test DNA, mainly in regards to there only being
a limited amount of the sample.
Pratt, T. C., Gaffney, M. J., Lovrich, N. P., & Johnson, C. L. (2006). This Isn't CSI, Estimating
the National Backlog of Forensic DNA Cases and the Barriers Associated With Case
Processing. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 17(1), 32-47.
This source discusses the CSI effect and how it is leading to issues within the court system .
People are trying to battle this using various methods mentioned.
Primorac, D., & Schanfield, M. (2000). Application of forensic DNA testing in the legal
system. Croatian Medical Journal, 41(1), 32-46.
This source regards the use of DNA is cases since the beginning of its time in the legal system.
Outline
I.
Introduction
a. What is a DNA profile?
b. How has the use of DNA grown in the CJ system
c. Some of the difficulties faced in CJ system regarding DNA usage
II.
Body Paragraph 1
a. Miscarriages of justice
i. Falsely imprisoned persons via misidentification
ii. DNA’s role in exonerations
Body Paragraph 2
a. DNA’s history through the CJ field
i. Cases pre DNA
ii. Cases during the early discovery/use of DNA
iii. Cases currently
Body Paragraph 3
a. Issues faced by the courts due to DNA
i. The CSI effect
Conclusion
a. Current situations regarding DNA
b. Sum up of paper
III.
IV.
V.