Dna Testing And Law Enforcement Officers Essay - 1825 Words

DNA forensics is a division of forensic science that focuses on the use of genetic material in criminal investigation to answer questions pertaining to legal situations, including criminal and civil cases. Through DNA testing, law enforcement officers are able to identify human remains or the individual responsible for a crime. DNA testing is a highly advanced scientific process that involves replicating the human DNA sequence to create a genetic map of an individual. Because of its reliability, DNA testing has become a significant factor in criminal cases. However, it has also been identified as having the potential to violate privacy and constitutional rights. The DNA identification process consists of five stages. These five stages include isolation, quantification, polymerase chain reaction, short tandem polymerase chain reaction, and interpretation. Isolation refers to the extraction of DNA from the nucleus of tissue cells. After extraction, scientists quantify the DNA sample by ensuring that it is at least one billionth of a gram in size. If the sample is smaller the isolation process must be repeated. Next, through polymerase chain reaction, the single strand of DNA is split down the middle into two pieces and replicated to create a larger sample. Next, through short tandem polymerase chain reaction, smaller sections of the DNA sequence are replicated. This allows scientists to interpret the DNA and create a genetic profile of the individual from whom the original DNAShow MoreRelatedTechnology And Science By Law Enforcement1653 Words   |  7 Pagesscience, and engineering to matters of law,† (2014). The emphasis here is the use of technology and science by law enforcement officers and agencies and is accepted and recognized by the criminal justice system. It is seen as scientific technology or Criminalistics, (Dempsey Forst, 2013). While technology plays a role in this, it is most recognized by the use of science by law enforcement and allowing scientific information to be admissible in the court of law. For this reason, forensic science isRead MoreTechnology And The Field Of Criminal Justice Essay1321 Words   |  6 Pagesbareback 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 is the system of law enforcement, involving police, lawyers, courts, and corrections, used for all phases of criminal procedures and penalty. As technology is used in the organizationRead MoreForensic Databases Have Grown With Our Advancements In869 Words   |  4 Pagesgrown with our advancements in technology that law enforcement 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 toRead MoreHow Catch A Criminal : Ins truments And Techniques Used For Investigations1651 Words   |  7 Pageslike CSI, Criminal Minds and Law and Order and how they depict the life of Criminal Investigators. They are young, independent, living somewhere on Paradise Island and in their spare time, when not hanging on a beach with a Pina Colada, they get a call about a case needing to be solved immediately. Which they do, by themselves and everyone high fives them. After studying Criminal Justice for a couple of years and growing up in a family full of Law Enforcement officers, I can assure you that realityRead MorePreventing Wrongful Convictions Essay1103 Words   |  5 PagesEvery time an innocent person is exonerated based on DNA testing, law enforcement agencies look at what caused the wrongful convictions. There are many issues that contribute to putting guiltless lives behind bars including: eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, imperfect forensic science, and more (Gould and Leo 18). When a witness i s taken into a police station to identify a suspect, it is easy for their memories to be blurred and their judgment influenced. This can lead the witnessRead MoreThe Case Of Maryland V King1670 Words   |  7 Pagesexplicitly related to the legality of DNA collection of individuals early in the booking process for serious crimes. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that pre-conviction DNA collection of those arrested for serious crimes is constitutional and does not violate the Fourth Amendment; a decision that will forever change the way DNA testing is used by the judicial system. This decision in favor of Maryland on the constitutionality of pre-conviction DNA testing was a result of the conclusions ofRead MoreThe Central Park Five1248 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Crime, deviance, and unethical conduct can found within almost every occupation and profession. Police ethics is the conduct that everyone is most concerned with. Police officers enter into an occupation that shares many characteristics of other career fields, but it also has unique responsibilities that deal with conduct and behavior. The PBS documentary: The Central Park Five, demonstrates two of the most common misconduct issues that the criminal justice professionals deal with nobleRead MoreThe Evolution of Warrantless Searches With Alcohol, Blood, And DNA With the creation of the2200 Words   |  9 Pages The Evolution of Warrantless Searches With Alcohol, Blood, And DNA With the creation of the First Congress, framers manifested the Fourth Amendment to provide sufficient privacy standards for the citizens of the United States of America. Framers upheld the 4th Amendment to sustain a functioning government-governed relationship, where officials respect individuals’ privacy and rights. During the First Congress, framers explicitly granted, â€Å"the right of the people to be secureRead MoreWrongful Convictions Essay Examples1456 Words   |  6 Pagesconvictions have been overturned and as a result of DNA evidence, seventeen people who were wrongfully convicted have been released from death row. The average person spends approximately thirteen years in prison before being exonerated. Over two thousand wrongfully convicted individuals have been exonerated. Wrongful convictions are an important case of social injustice. Every time an innocent person is exonerated based on DNA testing, law enforcement agencies look at what caused the wrongful convictionsRead MoreThe Death Penalty And The Criminal Justice System1475 Words   |  6 Pagesconvictions eyewitness identification, improper DNA testing, and false confessions. The Innocence Project is a project working to free the innocent and bring awareness to the issue of wrongful convictions around the world. In this page reports, that the percentage of exoneration cases are 235 involving eyewitness misidentification (The Innocence Project). Eyewitness misidentification is the highest contributing cause to wrongful convictions proven by DNA testing. There are three types of eyewitness identification