The Impact of DNA in Criminal Justice System - Research Paper Example

?The Impact of DNA in Criminal Justice System Introduction This essay attempts to elaborate upon the manner in which the invention of DNA has simplified work for the criminal justice system. It (essay) would also go on to explain the crucial role played by DNA in both getting the criminals convicted and also the wrongly accused acquitted. Before going into all those details, it would be worthwhile in having a brief look on the way in which DNA was discovered. Discovery of DNA The discovery of DNA as well as its structure denote as being amongst the most striking of all discoveries of the last century. The persons who are credited for discovering the DNA of double helix structure are James Watson and Francis Crick. Here, a key point has to be specifically mentioned. It were the endeavors by Linus Pauling, Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins that were instrumental in ensuring that Crick and Watson faced minimum hassles in coming out with the discovery. (1) (Explore DNA, n.d.) Watson and Crick, who were a biologist and a physicist, respectively, began their efforts in the first part of 1950s. At that point of time Pauling, who was a chemist, identified a key protein structure. Almost during the same period, Wilkins, who also was a physicist, took the initial DNA X-ray pictures. As a matter of fact, it was solely because of these X-ray pictures that everyone got aware that the structure of DNA is helical. (1) (Explore DNA, n.d.) During the early 1950s, Pauling, Crick and Watson had pointed out that the structure of DNA is triple helical, but this theory eventually went on to be disproved. This error was partly attributable to the fact that Watson misinterpreted a conversation that he had with Franklin. The thing that ultimately made Crick and Watson to go on the right path was the photo-51 of Franklin. As a matter of fact, this particular picture projected the correct pattern of DNA, and based on it, Watson and Crick went on to develop the DNA structure. (1) (Explore DNA, n.d.) Eventually, the basic discovery of DNA was attributed to the efforts of Crick and Watson, and the work of Franklin was not given its due recognition. This can be considered to be rather improper because, as mentioned earlier, it was the photo-51 of Franklin that went on to simplify things for Crick and Watson. Wilkins was working under Franklin, and owing to some sequence of events, she went on to remove him (Wilkins) from the team. Wilkins was very unhappy and he decided to get even with Franklin. Consequently, he befriended both Watson and Crick, and started providing them with key information about Franklin’s work. In fact, even the aforementioned photo-51 was the one that Wilkins gave to both of them (Watson and Crick) in a stealthy manner. In light of all the points discussed in this paragraph, it can conveniently be maintained that even Franklin should have been given the credit, with regard to the discovery of DNA. (2) (Heather Kane, n.d.) DNA and criminal justice The scientific procedure that enables in identification of persons based upon sequences of DNA is very precise where; the possibility of error is highly remote, almost non-existent. Owing to that, there have been countless cases where DNA played a key role in both identifying the criminals and also in getting the innocent persons to be acquitted. It would now be very much relevant in focusing on the manner in which DNA is helpful in solving crimes. (3) (National Academy of Sciences, 2011) The gene sequences in a substantial chunk of people are more or less the same. But it has been found that there are some zones in the sequence of DNA where there are variations from one individual to other. When a comparison of variations in two DNA samples is carried out, it can be known whether or not they pertain to the same person. To elaborate further, when the crime investigation people gather a DNA sample at the scene of the crime, and they also apprehend some suspects, the above analysis of DNA samples is conducted. (4) (National Academy of Sciences, 2011) The forensic DNA identification system of Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified thirteen zones in the genome where, there invariably are variations from one person to other. In a situation where the two samples of DNA match in all the above thirteen zones, there is then literally no chance that they are related to different people. This is the way in which DNA is essaying an extremely crucial role in the realm of crime investigation and criminal justice. (4) (National Academy of Sciences, 2011) DNA and laws It is no way an exaggeration in stating that the advent of DNA has revolutionized the system of criminal justice. The laws of all the states of the US have made it mandatory that the DNA samples of convicts have to be stored in a specially maintained database. Several laws also stipulate that all legal processes that succeed conviction of persons have to be based upon presence of evidence of DNA. (5) (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2011) DNA and solving of crimes It is only since the past decade that DNA technology is being extensively used in the realm of criminal investigation and justice. As a matter of fact, there is no hesitation in emphatically saying that this technology is extremely pivotal in making sure that justice is done. This is in terms of ensuring that the actual perpetrators of crimes are punished, as well as making sure that innocent people are not convicted. Even in cases where the suspect/s is not apprehended, the mere availability of DNA sample helps in identifying the person/s who committed the crime. Here, the sample is compared with DNA profiles present in the databases. (6) (justice.gov, n.d.) There are countless real instances where it was just the DNA technology, which was able to identify criminals. For instance, in the year 1999, the law enforcing authorities of New York City were enabled to identify a man who was guilty of several sexual assaults and robberies, solely relying on evidence of DNA. Likewise, in the year 2002, the officials of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Colorado and Fort Collins were successful in using DNA technology to nab the person who committed several crimes of rape and murder. In this case, it was seen that the criminal is none other than the man related to the above crimes of the year 1999, in New York. Similarly, in “green river killings” the year 2001, DNA technology aided in solving a sequence of crimes that were not solved for several years, despite committed efforts from the law-enforcing agencies. (6) (justice.gov, n.d.) DNA Technology – a solace for innocent people DNA technology is rendering yeomen service to innocent people who are wrongly accused of having committed crimes, mainly owing to false witnesses. The technology is proving beyond any doubt that the accused in fact are totally innocent. At this juncture, it won’t be out of place in taking a brief glance at couple of real cases, in which, the wrongly implicated persons were immensely benefited by the technology (DNA). (7) (Kari Sable Burns, n.d.) In the year 2000, a man named Frank Lee Smith, who was wrongly convicted of rape and murder, was finally declared as being innocent after having to spend about fourteen years in prison, awaiting the death penalty. This was possible only because of the DNA testing, which was not available when he was first apprehended. (7) (Kari Sable Burns, n.d.) Likewise, in May 1978, four men were nabbed by police of Chicago, under the charges of killing a man and as well as sexually assaulting and murdering his fiancee. The arrested men pleaded that they are in no way connected with the crime in question. But they could do little to help themselves, for three of them could not clear the polygraph test. Finally, after spending nearly eighteen years in the prison awaiting capital punishment, they were eventually exonerated in the year 1996. Even here, it was the DNA testing that came to their rescue. But for the improper polygraph that was initially used, they would not have been entailed to undergo intense trauma and that too for a crime not committed by them. (7) (Kari Sable Burns, n.d.) Here, the focus needs to shift on to a rather perturbing fact that, there definitely must have been several such cases where innocent persons were wrongly convicted. In light of that, it has to be emphasized that the advent of DNA technology is nothing short of a boon, more so for people who are trapped by law for no fault of theirs’. More on DNA testing It was only in the year 1992 that DNA testing was accepted as a way of identifying suspects supporting topmost levels of reliability. In fact, it was in this year that the National Research Council gave due recognition to the technology, as a near-accurate means of solving complicated crime cases. From that point of time onwards, the usage of DNA testing rapidly increased, in the sphere of criminal justice. (7) (Kari Sable Burns, n.d.) It was in that period itself that the US Department of Justice instructed all federal law enforcement agencies to be relying on DNA testing for solving crimes, as and when required. With the passage of time, DNA testing methods have become even more sophisticated, so much so that, bringing in results of DNA tests into courts has now become a routine. The role of DNA gains even more significance, when the crime in question is very serious in nature. Here, it is very much essential that both the guilty have to handed over stringent punishment, and also the innocent should not be sentenced. And both these objectives are being met by the sophisticated DNA technology. (7) (Kari Sable Burns, n.d.) Disturbing statistical figures Law enforcing authorities are initiating some drastic changes that further increase the usage of DNA testing in solving crimes, and rightly so. As per the related information of the year 2007, it was noted that well over two hundred convicts were ultimately acquitted, and that was solely because of DNA testing. According to the details released in the same year, a key point had been observed. When the 207 cases of prisoner exonerations of the preceding ten years were taken into consideration, about 75 percent of those (cases) are cases where persons have been wrongly convicted. And all these unjust convictions are attributable to faulty witnesses. All these extremely vital points just strengthen the case in favor of further enhancing the dependence on DNA technology, in the avenue of criminal justice. Authorities are now getting increasingly conscious of the fact that eye witnesses cannot be totally relied upon, for arriving at right judgment. (8) (Solomon Moore, 2007) Owing to all the contents emphasized in the preceding paragraph, several states of the US have now come out with some stipulations. These stipulations enable that the prisoners have accessibility to DNA testing, which could have been unavailable at the time when they were initially convicted. This subtly points out that even the authorities are indirectly admitting that there could be several false convictions in the past. (8) (Solomon Moore, 2007) Conclusion This write-up can be concluded by stating that the invention of DNA denotes as being one of the best things to have happened for the law enforcement segment, if not the best. There is every reason to hope that this technology would progress to the extent where, wrongful convictions as well as false acquittals become nothing things of the past. The topic in question is an exhaustive one and covering all the related points in a brief paper such as this one is very difficult. Yet, a sincere attempt has been made to encompass the most important of the aspects. Sources 1) Explore DNA, ND. How was DNA Discovered? Retrieved from exploredna.co.uk/how-was-dna-discovered.html. 2) Heather Kane, ND. Who Discovered DNA? Retrieved from tc.engr.wisc.edu/uer/uer96/author9/index.html. 3) National Academy of Sciences (2011). How DNA Determines Guilt or Innocence. Retrieved from koshland-science-museum.org/exhibitdna/crim01.jsp. 4) National Academy of Sciences (2011). Catch A Criminal. Retrieved from koshland-science-museum.org/exhibitdna/crim05text.jsp. 5) National Conference of State Legislatures (2011). DNA in Criminal Justice. Retrieved from ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/CivilandCriminalJustice/DNAinCriminalJustice/tabid/12727/Default.aspx. 6) justice.gov (n.d). USING DNA TO SOLVE CRIMES. Retrieved from ncsl.org/IssuesResearch/CivilandCriminalJustice/DNAinCriminalJustice/tabid/12727/Default.aspx. 7) Kari Sable Burns (n.d). Criminal Investigations, DNA & Forensic Science. Retrieved from karisable.com/crdna1.htm. 8) Solomon Moore (2007, October). Exoneration Using DNA Brings Change in Legal System. Retrieved from nytimes.com/2007/10/01/us/01exonerate.html. Read More