Modern DNA Analysis

Modern DNA analysis is a powerful technique that has drastically changed the way criminal justice systems use evidence. It involves extracting cells from biological samples such as blood, saliva, and hair, isolating that cell’s DNA, and then studying it to form a unique profile of an individual. The technique has become widely used in many forensic criminal investigations and can be applied to both current and historical cases.

Technology-based forensic science has had a tremendous impact on the criminal justice system over the last few decades. For example, with the advent of DNA analysis capabilities, investigators are now able to re-evaluate evidence from unsolved cases in an entirely new way. In recent years, DNA analysis has been used to reexamine physical evidence such as hair, blood and tissue samples from cold cases and has yielded countless convictions that wouldn’t have been possible without modern forensic technology (Campbell et al., 2016).

Technology-based forensic science has not only helped in solving crimes and gaining convictions but it is also proving quite useful in exonerating wrongfully accused individuals for whom traditional methods of investigation could not account. This is especially true for cases that involve missing persons or unidentified remains. In many cases, the once mysterious process of assessing fingerprints or analyzing trace evidence is now secondary to sophisticated DNA testing techniques, which have revolutionized the way crime scenes are managed and solved.

In light of the advancements in technology and DNA analysis, cases that have remained unsolved for years can now be reexamined with a new lens. Much of the evidence from historical cases can now be tested with modern DNA analysis, providing invaluable insight that can lead to reevaluation of evidence and possible convictions. For instance, a recent cold case in California was reopened after DNA testing connected the perpetrator to a 1993 murder in Los Angeles. This case had gone cold for 26 years before the sample was tested using modern forensic techniques, which provided an exact match between the perpetrator’s profile and that of the crime scene sample. This is only one example of how technology has transformed criminal justice investigations and enabled prosecutors to get justice in cases they would have been unable to prosecute due to a lack of evidence. This is just one example of how modern science has had an immeasurable impact on criminal justice by allowing us to look at historical cases with 21st century technology. With such sophisticated tools available today, the potential for uncovering truth and bringing closure to families is greater than ever before (Gershaw et al., 2011).

References

Campbell, R., Feeney, H., Pierce, S. J., Sharma, D. B., & Fehler-Cabral, G. (2016). Tested at Last: How DNA Evidence in Untested Rape Kits Can Identify Offenders and Serial Sexual Assaults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(24), 3792–3814. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260516639585

Gershaw, C. J., Schweighardt, A. J., Rourke, L. C., & Wallace, M. M. (2011). Forensic utilization of familial searches in DNA databases. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 5(1), 16–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2010.07.005

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Modern DNA Analysis

Paper details
Technology is one of the major factors that has reshaped forensic science over the last
few decades. What was once unimaginable has now become common place because of
technology. Nowhere are these dramatic changes more evident than in forensic DNA
analysis capabilities.
Prior to beginning work on this discussion, please review the following:
 The articles:
o Policies and Practices in Cold Cases: An Exploratory Study
o The Impact of DNA Exonerations on the Criminal Justice System
o Cold Cases: Resources for Agencies, Resolution for Families
o The special report Using DNA to Solve Cold Cases
 The videos:
o
o IBIS and a Cold Case (video above)
o Just Wrong: The Aftermath of Wrongful Convictions
o Power of Forensic DNA & Technology in Cold Case Prosecutions – Justice
Journal Episode 1
 The web pages:
o Cold Case Initiative
o Cold Case Investigations and Forensic DNA

Significant advances in forensic science and technology have been made in just the last
50 to 75 years. The two areas most significantly affected by these advances, which have
allowed investigators to re-evaluate old cases with new tools, are cold case
investigations (i.e., usually homicide or sexual assault) and exonerating individuals
wrongfully convicted. The class will be divided into groups to explore these topics
closely.
You are also strongly encouraged to review the recommended sources, which may
further support this discussion forum. You will be assigned to topics by last name to
complete this discussion forum.
You will be assigned as follows if your last name begins with the following letters:

 A through M: Unsolved cold cases
From the perspective of your assigned topic, evaluate modern science’s potential in
reevaluating evidence from historical cases. Provide examples and specific details about
what has changed and the impact it has had on the criminal justice system.
The instructor has the discretion to reassign students to an alternative category to
ensure topics are all covered.
The body of your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims
with examples from this week’s required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources
and properly cite any references. Remember science is objective, not a matter of
subjective opinions.?