Category: DNA and Law
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The Laws Guarding DNA Collection and Analysis
DNA Arrestee laws authorize law enforcement to collect DNA upon arrest and authorize the analysis of said DNA, but many of the laws’ provisions vary from state to state. These include which crimes qualify, whether a probable cause hearing is first required, and whether that decision will be made by a judge or a grand…
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DNA in the Court
While DNA profiling is considered one of the most powerful forensic tools, its role in the courtroom is not always straightforward. The probative value of any piece of evidence is the probability of the evidence proving something important – in essence, the relative weight of each type of evidence. Courts generally assign high probative values…
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Ethical and Systematical Issues with DNA Profiling
As DNA evidence plays a profound role in conviction and release, its issues are elucidated. There are several privacy concerns that have arisen with DNA collection. Most users of genealogy databases, where people provide samples of genetic information to private companies for insight into their genetic history, are unaware that law enforcement may be able…
The Forensics Lens 