Dna And The Criminal Justice System - 872 Words

Deoxyribonucleic Acid, otherwise known as DNA has played a crucial part in many investigations both past and present. It can be used to identify criminals when there is evidence left behind with incredible accuracy. DNA evidence is taken seriously enough that it can exonerate, or bring about a conviction. In Today’s society DNA evidence and technology is vital to the criminal justice system by ensuring accuracy and fairness. In 1984, Alec Jeffreys of the University of Leicester discovered a new marker in the human genome. DNA is generally the same in all human beings with an exception to the â€Å"junk code† that is unique to every person. Junk DNA in investigations can usually be found in saliva, blood, skin tissues, semen, skin tissue, and hair. Jeffreys proved that even small fragments of DNA molecules were unique to an individual with the exception of monozygotic twins. Due to his discovery, many older and unsolved cases from the pre-DNA era are being re-opened and subjected to DNA testing with the hope of solving them. (Nelson, M. (2011) Due to the uniqueness of DNA it has become a powerful tool in criminal investigations as it can involve, or exempt a suspect. It can also be used to identify the remains of dead bodies through comparison with the DNA database. It can also be compared to other crime scene evidence so as to connect the crimes to a particular perpetrator whether it be local, countrywide, orShow MoreRelatedDna Profiling And The Criminal Justice System1372 Words   |  6 Pagesto use DNA profiling to match the semen to a suspect. Colin Pitchfork became the first person to be caught based on mass DNA screening, and the first to be convicted based on DNA profiling. The use of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) in the criminal justice system has greatly tipped the scales in favor of law enforcement, and changed the world that we live in. Court cases that in the past relied heavily on eye witness testimony and circumstantial evidence now have science to back them up. DNA analysisRead MoreDna Testing And The Criminal Justice System716 Words   |  3 PagesConvictions prior to the advancement of DNA testing in the criminal justice system were commonly found to be later wrongful and due to eyewitness misidentification (Scheck Neufeld, 2001). Hence, there has been increasing research by psychologists in eyewitness memory and particularly in line up practices. In criminal identific ation, a simultaneous line up (SIM) is typically used and involves presenting the witness with all line-up suspects at once with the offender (target) placed amongst otherRead MoreJustice Systems And The Justice System Of Other Nations1732 Words   |  7 Pagesbeen and will be discussed concerning our justice system and the justice system of other nations. Contrarily there are varying types of courts all throughout these other nations as well. Similarly, all nations have criminal sanctions, sentencing practices, and types of punishment, death penalties, and imprisonments. The question I present is what about all those who have been unlawfully convicted, sentenced and then later on exonerated centered upon DNA or whatsoever evidence available? What aboutRead MoreEffectiveness of the Criminal Trial Process as a Means of Achieving Justice977 Words   |  4 PagesThe effectiveness of the criminal trial process as a means of achieving justice The criminal trial process aims to provide justice for all those involved, while it succeeds in the majority of cases, it effectiveness is influenced and reduced by certain factors. These include the legal representation involved in a case and the availability of legal aid, the capacity of the jury assessing the trial, the credibility of scientific evidence and the impact of social media on the trial process. Due toRead MoreCriminal Justice Trends Evnaluatio1253 Words   |  6 PagesCriminal Justice Trends Evaluation 1 Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation December 10, 2012 CJA/394 Troy Hokanson Criminal Justice Trends Evaluation 2 Introduction The criminal justice system is very important to American society. The reason for laws are to defend society from harm, makeRead MoreDna Evidence And The Justice System1224 Words   |  5 Pagesin many criminal cases in DNA evidence. Since the 1980s, DNA analysis has continued to make steady progress as an adjunct to police investigations. DNA can be collected from blood, hair, skin cells, and other bodily substances. Similar to fingerprints, each individual has a unique DNA profile, but unlike that of fingerprints, only a miniscule amount of genetic material is needed to identify or eliminate suspects. However, the reliability and accuracy of the use of DNA evidence in criminal trials inRead MoreForensic Databases Have Grown With Our Advancements In869 Words   |  4 Pagesenforcement uses a forensic DNA database that uses a method called, familial matching. Familial DNA searching looks for partial matches that can not only match the suspect’s DNA, but the suspect’s family line. This is unlike the typical DNA database that law enforcement has used for years. For that DNA database makes an exact match between the suspect of the crime and his or her DNA sample. Familial DNA searches have been found to be beneficial to Police and Criminal Investigators, and Crime AnalysistsRead MoreWrongfully Convicted And The Criminal Justice System890 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent crimes that has taken place. In today’s society, we depend upon the justice system. Criminal Justice is a big deal. The Criminal Justice system was put in place by the agencies and established by the governments to help control the crimes and apply penalties to those that violate the law. Many people feel that the criminal justice system is there to protect and serve while others feel that the criminal justice system fails them daily. Over 30 years ago Alan Newton was convicted of a crimeRead MoreThe Crime Of The Criminal Justice System963 Words   |  4 Pagesdepend highly upon the justice system. Criminal Justice is a major concern. Criminal Justice consists of three areas: our police, courts and corrections department. The Criminal Justice system was put in place by these agencies, and established by the governments to help control the crimes and applies penalties to those that violate the law. Many people feel that the criminal justice system is there to protect and serve while others feel that the criminal justice system fails them daily. OverRead MoreTechnology And The Field Of Criminal Justice Essay1321 Words   |  6 Pagesfield of criminal justice has not been an exception to this technological advances. These advances in technology has taken the criminal justice field a long way from riding a horse bareback to driving armored cars. These advances along with many others have almost completely changed how things are handled in all aspects of the law. Technology is the persistent application of information in the design, production and use of goods and services, and in the organization of human activities. Criminal Justice