Because individual DNA is as personal as a fingerprint, DNA collected from a crime scene can either link a suspect to evidence or eliminate a suspect. When evidence from one crime scene is compared with that from others, the crimes can be linked nationwide, thereby providing valuable criminal intelligence information to the police and/or evidence for use in court. As DNA retains its integrity, evidence from crimes committed years previously may yield sufficient DNA for analysis and point to a previously unknown suspect. DNA profiles may be used to: Identify potential suspects whose DNA matches evidence found at crime scenes. Exclude a suspect quickly, by demonstrating that a person was not involved in a particular crime scene or crime. Identify patterns of criminal behaviour through matching DNA profiles found at several crime scenes; this may help solve past, current and even future crimes. In other words, not only will DNA profiling increase the likelihood of identifying unknown perpetrators, but it will also increase the possibility of linking perpetrators to multiple crime scenes. Promote plea bargains, when suspects are confronted with real evidence in the form of a DNA match. For example, in Britain, 85 percent of suspects plead guilty when presented with a match of their DNA to the crime. Exonerate persons wrongly accused of crimes. Identify victims of disasters. Establish paternity and other familial relationships. Identify endangered and protected species when wildlife officials wish to prosecute poachers. Detect and identify micro-organisms polluting the air, soil or water.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:40:44 +0000
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