32. Forensics DNA-based Forensics: The Real Story NQ

Forensics has really captured the public attention lately through films and television shows like CSI and NYPD Blue. But how does it really happen? What is really involved with criminal scene investigation? Particularly with DNA evidence, is it anything like CSI?. Forensic Science is the application of natural sciences to matters of the law. How does DNA forensic testing help a criminal investigation? Almost everywhere you go you leave a piece of you behind that can be used to trace your presence. Now all fifty States maintain a DNA felon database. Some people maintain that we should develop an all arrestee database, or even a all population DNA database. What are the benefits to public safety? What are the perceived intrusions to privacy rights? In an additional section, Amy Duhiem from the Rhode Island State Crime Lab reviews Trace Evidence, including hair, ballistics, imprints, fingerprints, tire tracks, arson evidence and more related to crime scene analysis.

This section focuses on an introduction to Criminalistics as the study and evaluation of the recognition, identification, individualization, and evaluation of physical evidence using the methods of the natural sciences in matters of legal significance, with special attention to DNA. This section provides a historical background giving a case study adjudicated concerning the murder at Rodman Dam Recreational Area in Florida in 1988, as first case involving DNA evidence in the U.S. legal history in which the death sentence was handed down. How is PCR used to evaluate forensic DNA evidence? Can the procedure itself be argued against? What are STRs and what is the CODIS? Finally, some recent case studies involving DNA evidence are reviewed.

[XenonDiosmitide]

I'll be dead honest. This was a creepy lecture...albeit good.