DNA Analysis

[Name of the Institute]DNA Analysis

Background

As a new technology in criminal justice, DNA is reforming the criminal justice system, in that it can help solve crimes with unprecedented accuracy. DNA evidence is based on small samples of genetic material from individuals that are collected at the scene of a crime, tested, and stored, and later used as evidence in court. The tremendous value of DNA evidence resides in the confluence of two factors: that violent crime typically results in the shedding of biological material in the form of blood, semen, saliva, small amounts of skin, or hair; and that DNA found in the cells of these samples holds the unique genetic code of the individual to whom it belongs. Once the DNA is analyzed in a crime laboratory, it can be compared to the DNA of any individual, whether a suspect, victim, or witness. If a genetic concordance (the presence of the same trait) is found during this comparison, a strong inference is formed that the person is the donor of the biological material. The term match is discouraged, as it is misleading. This evidence aids investigators immeasurably in determining what happened during a violent act, and who was involved in it.

DNA evidence is the most reliable and accurate type of evidence that exists today, far more reliable than other types of evidence such as eyewitness identification and confessions. DNA evidence has helped solve crimes as well as exonerate individuals who have been wrongfully convicted. This last use of DNA is helping to reform the criminal justice system by revealing wrongful convictions due to the unreliability of eyewitness identification, coerced confessions, and other, less discriminating forms of physical evidence. However, using DNA evidence also raises some legal and ethical problems that must be addressed in order to uphold the constitutional rights of both defendants and citizens (Evett et al, 1992)

Cases

Finance companies are emerging as a major problem for the city police, who are investigating cases involving stolen gold jewellery. The police have come across many cases wherein criminals are turning to finance companies to pledge stolen gold ornaments against hard cash as 'loans', shunning their earlier preference for goldsmiths and pawnbrokers. Pledging gold ornaments with finance companies can fetch them as much as 80% of the total value of gold pledged for loans at low interest rates. Goldsmiths and pawnbrokers offer only 50%.

Once the stolen gold is pledged and the 80% of the gold's value taken in cash as loan, the criminals vanish into thin air without bothering to repay the loans, says an inspector from south division police. Realising that the payment has been defaulted, the company seizes the gold. With the police maintaining a tight vigil over goldsmiths and pawnbrokers to check sale of stolen gold, unsuspecting finance companies have emerged as the favourites among the criminals. The firms have nothing to lose; on the contrary much to gain as they part with just 80% of the gold's value, and in almost all the cases get to retain the gold as the repayment ...