DNA Sampling in Solving Crimes

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how DNA, with its incredible accuracy, has been used to free wrongly convicted persons, identify criminals, and clear suspects, especially in sexual assault cases. The paper notes that there are those who believe that DNA collection is unconstitutional but this paper is of the opinion that it is a powerful tool that police departments should use.

From the Paper:

"A married couple was jogging on a trail in September of 1993 in Dallas when a man with a gun attacked the couple by shooting the man and sexually assaulting the female. There was no suspect identified even though the police investigated over 200 leads and 40 potential suspects. Seven years later evidence was analyzed with the use of DNA technology. In February 2001 the DNA was matched to a sex offender who was serving a five-year sentence for sexual assault on a child (Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology, 2003).
"An eight year old girl was sexually assaulted in 1994 in Texas. In 1999 DNA evidence was entered in the national DNA database. The DNA profile of a jailed suspect was entered in the same database in 2003. The DNA was a match. The jailed suspect was scheduled to be released in a few months (DPS DNA Database Solving More Crimes, 2004)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fields, R. (2005). Hot tip cracks a cold case. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2005, from cleveland.com Web site:http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1105525819103491.xml
• Jones, P. (n.d.). Arresting development in dna typing. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2005, from http://www.forensic-evidence.com/site/Biol_Evid/BioEvid_dna_jones.html
• Lewis, C. (2002). Solving the cold case: time, ingenuity and dna can help. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2005, from http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/12/17/ctv.cold.cases/
• Texas Department of Public Safety, (2004). Dps dna database solving more crimes. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2005, from Texas Department of Public Safety - Courtesy, Service, Protection Web site: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/pr041404.htm
• The White House, (2003). Advancing justice through dna technology. Retrieved Jan. 17, 2005, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/justice/dna_initiative_policy_book.pdf

More papers on DNA Sampling in Solving Crimes:

• Research Paper # 95226 : "The Internet and Solving Crimes"
• Term Paper # 125694 : "DNA Technologies in Criminal Casework"
• Essay # 40951 : "DNA Profiling in Crime-Solving"

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