In the late 1980s, the federal government laid the groundwork for a system of national, state, and local DNA databases for the storage and exchange of DNA profiles. In this hypothetical case, he was also prevented from committing other crimes during the period of his incarceration.ĭNA evidence is generally linked to DNA offender profiles through DNA databases. He was apprehended, tried, and sentenced for his second crime. This evidence was analyzed, the resulting profile was run against a DNA database, and a match was made to the man’s DNA profile. A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner worked with the victim and was able to obtain biological evidence from the rape. Several years later, another sexual assault was committed. At the time of his conviction, he was required to provide a sample of his DNA, and the resulting DNA profile was entered into a DNA database. Crime scene evidence can also be linked to other crime scenes through the use of DNA databases.įor example, assume that a man was convicted of sexual assault. In cases where a suspect has not yet been identified, biological evidence from the crime scene can be analyzed and compared to offender profiles in DNA databases to help identify the perpetrator. The results of this comparison may help establish whether the suspect committed the crime. In cases where a suspect is identified, a sample of that person’s DNA can be compared to evidence from the crime scene. In the 2001 “Green River” killings, DNA evidence provided a major breakthrough in a series of crimes that had remained unsolved for years despite a large law enforcement task force and a $15 million investigation.ĭNA is generally used to solve crimes in one of two ways. In 2002, authorities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Fort Collins, Colorado, used DNA evidence to link and solve a series of crimes (rapes and a murder) perpetrated by the same individual. For example, in 1999, New York authorities linked a man through DNA evidence to at least 22 sexual assaults and robberies that had terrorized the city. News stories extolling the successful use of DNA to solve crimes abound. In all, DNA technology is increasingly vital to ensuring accuracy and fairness in the criminal justice system. By the same token, DNA can be used to clear suspects and exonerate persons mistakenly accused or convicted of crimes. DNA can be used to identify criminals with incredible accuracy when biological evidence exists. The past decade has seen great advances in a powerful criminal justice tool: deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA. TOC | Executive Summary | Using DNA to Protect the Innocent USING DNA TO SOLVE CRIMES
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