DNA evidence can have a significant effect on a criminal case, making it easier to identify and prosecute guilty parties. It has completely changed the way the criminal justice system works and allows law enforcement to more accurately solve cases. For more information on DNA testing and its use in legal matters, speak with a knowledgeable Bergen County criminal defense attorney today.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the molecule in almost all organisms that holds genetic material and information. It is the building block for the human body. Hair, blood, saliva, skin tissue, bone, etc. all hold genetic information. Every human being’s DNA is unique to them, meaning that the evidence can be invaluable in a criminal investigation.
DNA evidence can prove useful in many ways during a criminal case. No two people have the same genetic information, though identical twins may be an exception. When DNA is collected from a crime scene it can be used in an investigation to identify the culprit.
DNA samples collected from the scene of a crime can be compared to the genetic information of any suspects law enforcement identifies. Its use can help eliminate the possibility of one or more suspects or link a person to the crime.
If the DNA does not match any suspect or no suspects have been identified, law enforcement can enter the evidence into shared databases to link crimes to each other or identify the culprit from a previous arrest.
DNA testing has allowed law enforcement to open and solve cases that ran cold long ago. The information is also compelling to a jury when determining whether or not a defendant is guilty. DNA matches can be persuasive and provide support for the prosecution’s argument.
A significant advantage of DNA evidence is its use in proving the innocence of wrongly convicted individuals. Unfortunately, over the years many individuals have been falsely accused and convicted of crimes they did not commit. DNA testing has allowed individuals to be exonerated after data showed that their genetic information did not match that of the true culprit. This impacts not only the wrongfully convicted but also their families and friends.
There are limitations to the use of DNA, as with any piece of evidence. For example, if the individual who committed the crime has never been arrested then their DNA is likely not in any database, meaning no match will appear.
There is also the possibility that the DNA sample was contaminated, degraded, mixed with other DNA, etc. Although it has limitations, since its introduction DNA evidence has significantly contributed to criminal cases. For more information and to obtain legal representation, contact a skilled lawyer today.
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