| DNA testing is a vital tool in establishing | | | | whether or not to proceed to prosecution. |
| the true owner of genetic material, or in | | | | Combined with witness identification or other |
| resolving disputes as to parentage such as in | | | | testimony, DNA evidence can raise |
| the case of DNA Paternity Testing. But it is | | | | particularly powerful questions as to the |
| also of use in a more social context - in the | | | | innocence or otherwise of the accused. |
| sphere of solving crime and delivering | | | | |
| justice. | | | | DNA Testing - Is it prejudicial to the |
| | | | accused? |
| Compared to fifty years ago, thanks to | | | | |
| advances in DNA testing, police forces the | | | | In courts across the world, DNA results have |
| world over are finding convictions for more | | | | been used to gain valuable convictions |
| serious crimes are seriously boosted by the | | | | against some of the most dangerous and |
| availability of DNA testing techniques. So | | | | violent of criminals, many of whom would |
| what role has DNA testing come to play in the | | | | otherwise have walked free. However there |
| judicial system, and is this a reliable | | | | have been some successful appeal verdicts |
| process on which to base criminal | | | | heard on the basis of overly prejudicial |
| convictions? | | | | evidence. DNA results, after all, do not |
| | | | prove an individual committed a crime - they |
| DNA Testing - Providing evidence | | | | can only determine the presence, positively |
| | | | or negatively, of genetic material, which is |
| Biologically, DNA testing is a highly | | | | an important element of circumstantial |
| accurate way of determining genetic | | | | evidence, but not necessarily critical to the |
| relationships, and determining a positive | | | | case. Thus some high-profile individuals have |
| identification of the source of any genetic | | | | claimed DNA evidence to give a potentially |
| material found at the scene of the crime. In | | | | misleading impression to jury members, which |
| many instances it can confirm that a suspect | | | | might adversely affect a fair trial. |
| was present at a scene, or was found to bear | | | | |
| the DNA of the victim, which is of course | | | | DNA Testing - Here to stay |
| very useful, and often determining, | | | | |
| information to help solve a crime. However, | | | | There is no doubt DNA testing has become more |
| some corners have suggested that DNA testing | | | | relevant in a legal context in recent years. |
| might be too prejudicial to the accused, and | | | | What's more, with continuing research in the |
| have subsequently called for directions as to | | | | field, the methods and techniques available |
| the nature of the evidence presented to be | | | | will continue to improve. In addition, when |
| put forth in jury trial settings by the | | | | it comes to determining whether we're right |
| presiding Judge. | | | | to put such faith in genetic testing, it's |
| | | | best to consider that we don't have any |
| The main advantage of DNA testing in court | | | | better scientific way of determining |
| cases is that it's capable of placing the | | | | identity. When used with other |
| accused at the scene of the crime or | | | | circumstantial evidence, it is generally |
| confirming that the accused has come into | | | | accepted that DNA testing is particularly |
| contact with a victim. Along with other | | | | effective, and rightly an important inclusion |
| strands evidence, this can prove crucial to | | | | in the modern criminal justice system. |
| the outcome of the case and the decision | | | | |