The Optimization of the DNA Testing - Research Paper Example

Americas Backlog on DNA Contents Contents 2 Reducing Backlog on DNA 3 3 Introduction 3 Problem Statement 4 Hypothesis 4 Background and Literature Review 5 Summary 6 Research Methods 7 Research Design 7 Sampling 7 Data collection 7 Data Collection Tools 8 Ethical Issues 8 Research Consideration 8 Identified Concerns for Validity and Reliability 8 Strengths and weaknesses of the core components of the research 9 Summary of the Ethical Issues 9 Conclusion 9 References 10 Reducing Backlog on DNA Abstract DNA technology has found a niche market in the criminal justice. This market has depicted infinite demand for the technology which is expected to trigger rapid development of the technology. The high number of cases of rape, homicide and most of the other court cases has adopted the kind of evidence offered by the DNA technology. This huge prime demand for the technology should have propelled its development. This however, has not been the case. Instead the demand has overwhelmed the supply of the technology. Inadequate efforts may have been put on improving the efficiency and streamlining the implementation process. Consequently, there has been a backlog in the laboratories and state departments that handle criminal justice cases. The improvement in the efficiency of the technology to reduce cost and time taken for DNA analysis and the increase in the number of DNA testing and analysis facilities and resources can tremendously wipe out the backlog that is already piling up. This document seeks to present how the improvement in efficiency and proper implementation of the DNA technology can help clear to backlog of DNA cases and to recommend the possible ways of ameliorating the situation. Introduction The evidence provided by the DNA testing is the most compelling and is steadily becoming inevitable in court cases. Despite this fascinating nature of DNA technology, it has been threatened by the buildup backlog of DNA case files or experiments in the testing facilities. The problem of backlog has been a vicious challenge as a result of ever growing large number of cases which primarily require the use of DNA to provide strong evidence. The resources, the facilities and the efficiency of the technology may have been growing at a relatively lower rate, leading to delayed process of handling DNA cases especially at the testing and analysis stage. Problem Statement DNA is renowned for its unchallenged evidence on identity. This has sparked scramble for the DNA technology in various fields of which criminal justice is the leading consumer owing to the fact that the ultimate focus of criminal justice is the undisputed evidence. Criminal justice is a busy field, always handling numerous cases as offences that require such strong evidence keep proliferating on a daily basis. This also contributes to it being the largest consumer of the DNA technology. With its domineering quality of providing immaculate evidence which gives the court an easy task of making a decision over a case, the DNA technology has taken a center stage in criminal justice. The question is, if it is obviously easier to make judgments over cases courtesy of DNA, why is there a backlog of DNA? Hypothesis The hypothesis of this study is that if judgment based on the DNA results in the courts is quick and easy to make then the backlog on cases which adopts the technology is not caused by anything other than the lack of efficiency in the implementation of the technology and inadequate DNA ample testing and analysis facilities and resources. If these factors are solved then there will be reduction in the amount of backlog on DNA. The inverse correlation will indicate how the improvement in the independent variables: efficiency, facilities and resources, will effect a reduction in the dependent variable, backlog on the DNA. Background and Literature Review The existing providers of this technology conspicuously starve the exponentially rising demand. There is a possibility that the demand has overtaken the supply of the technology. Some of the present testing and analysis centers sometimes delay to provide information on the tests. Tofte (2009) illustrates this using rape testing kits which “Advocates say it may take up to a year to get results on the kits that are tested.” The effect of this delay is that it allows time for more testing to take place while waiting analysis. The backlog builds up without anyone realizing when it piled up since when the time for analysis reach, there are already numerous tests to be completed and analyzed. The DNA testing technology for evidence in court cases is not very old. In the process of adoption of the technology, a database for DNA of all the members of the state’s population has to available I order that testing and analysis is not delayed (Cantillon et al., 2009). This is not the situation yet. Whereas the number of criminal cases has been on the rise, including those that happened hitherto the introduction of the DNA technology, the compiling of the database for the DNA samples of the individuals of the population is not complete. In fact the database is being compiled as cases are being resolved. The evidence base is limited for new genetic tests (Kroese et al., 2007). This has proved overwhelming while rushing to collect samples to build the database and solving the case at the same time. In some cases, the process of building up the DNA data bank has often been challenged by civil rights and privacy policies. This has slowed down the application of the DNA technology. James (2011) stipulates that the rights activists have challenged the need to keep the DNA samples of innocent citizens or innocent immigrants. This reason is partly due to fears that the innocent victims’ samples could be tampered with and they get implicated in cases they have not played a role. The tussle which has slowed down the adoption of the DNA technology explains why the demand has overtaken the supply in this case. These challenges are addressed by Epstein et al. (1994) as scientific, legal and financial obstacles. It is further explained here that the process demands a high degree of accuracy and hence high degree of technical expertise since the testing procedure is very delicate. For now, the rape cases relying on DNA technology is low due to high cost and the time it takes to process test results (Epstein et al., 1994). There is lack of consensus on the standard testing procedure and the few laboratories that provide the test are commercial. There is also lack of standard database from which statistics of the entire population can acceptably be projected. The extensive data necessary to accurately assess the frequency of a given allele in the general population or in ethnic groups do not exist. Epstein et al. (1994) assert that DNA typing holds for creating databanks to store information about convicted rapists that may be useful in solving serial rape cases. The solutions to these challenges could be: defining standard criteria for genetic testing, enhancing access to and uptake of genetic testing and establishing the mechanisms to optimize the testing services (Kroese et al., 2007). Summary This investigation is meant to positively influence the efforts that have been put to clear the existing DNA backlogs. It is expected to help put focus on the causes of the backlog on the DNA testing and analysis. Perhaps many studies have focused on the process of providing what could possibly challenge the evidence provided by the DNA in criminal cases or they have been focusing on the process of acquiring the technology given its demand and potential. The processes such as standardization of procedures used and optimization of the technology may have been deprived of efforts. Research Methods Research Design The primary objective of this research is to determine how to clear the DNA backlog by optimizing DNA testing process, enhancing the testing facilities by increasing technical experts, equipment and number of facilities. An objective approach will be used in carrying out the research. Sampling The sampling method will be simple. Only the facilities that offer DNA testing for criminal investigation purposes will be included in the research. These facilities will qualify on the basis of whether they have or have not pending DNA testing and analysis cases. The ones that have pending cases will be considered. The next factor to consider is whether the testing and analysis facility is legally registered with all legal requirements satisfied. Data collection The data required for this study will include: the number of facilities providing DNA testing, the number of certified trained forensic experts available, the testing criteria adopted by the individual facility, the testing equipment, the test and analysis duration for each facility and the most recent data on the crime rate in the state. The crime rate will be compared to the duration of DNA testing and analysis. The duration of testing and analysis will be designed as a function of number of experts, testing criteria and testing equipment. The method of regression analysis will be used to establish this relationship. Other factors that may influence time will be included as they arise so that the best estimation is obtained. The testing criteria as adopted by individual facilities will be examined separately with an aim of finding the standard procedure that gives the best results in terms of accuracy, cost and time. Data Collection Tools Due to the nature of details required, the method of questionnaire will be used to collect the required data. The questionnaire is preferred because the objective of the research is predetermined; besides, it will be time conscious and easy to carry out since the questions can be posted by mail. Interviews will be limited to clarification of the data already acquired by questionnaire and it will be done by a phone call. Ethical Issues The major ethical consideration in this case is the company privacy policy. This research can easily be mistaken to imply the incriminatory process for the targeted facilities. This has been taken care of first by involving genuinely legalized facilities. It will also be clarified that the procedure is aimed at finding a solution that could help the facilities manage their backlog on DNA testing and analysis. Further, the states’ department of justice and relevant bodies will be involved to win the confidence of the targeted facilities in order to make the research successful. Research Consideration Identified Concerns for Validity and Reliability Challenges over the validity of the responses provided on the questionnaire are real and must be addressed. The falsifiable information could arise from the equipment used, the experts involved, the time frame of the test and the method used. All the measures will be included in the form to make sure that these data are evidenced. Also, it will imply that only the valid testing facilities that are recognized will be involved. That is the facilities that offer DNA testing for criminal investigation purposes. Dubious facilities will not be included in the research. Strengths and weaknesses of the core components of the research Whereas the research may succeed in determining the real roots of the backlog to be the expertise, cost, equipment, standard criteria and the need to optimize the technology; it may not be in a position to provide for the needs. Therefore a further intervention may need to be sought to cater for the proposals. Summary of the Ethical Issues The success of this research strongly relies on the level of participation by the identified facilities. Where the facilities feel threatened or has a court case regarding its operations, then the research could be hindered. This has to be critically addressed. Conclusion The optimization of the DNA testing, reduction in cost, increase in the number of experts in the field, standardization of testing procedures, completing the building of DNA databank for the entire population and enhancement of the facilities can greatly contribute to the reduction of backlog on DNA. All these factors collectively contribute to the reduction in the time taken to process the DNA samples. The knowledge gained from this research will help in emphasizing these. References Cantillon, D., Kopiec, K., Clawson, H. (2009). Evaluation of the impact of the forensic casework DNA backlog reduction program. New York: Bedford/St. Martins Epstein, J., Stacia, N. and Langenbahn, W. (2009). The criminal justice and community response to rape issues and practices in criminal justice. New York: DIANE Publishing. James, N. (2011). DNA testing in criminal justice: background, current law, grants, and issues. New York: Bedford/St. Martins Kroese, M., Elles, R., Zimmern, L. (2007). The evaluation of clinical validity and clinical utility of genetic tests; summary of expert workshop. Retrieved on November 20, 2011 from www.phgfoundation.org Tofte, S. (2009). Testing justice: The rape kit backlog in Los Angeles City and County, Human Rights. New York: DIANE Publishing. Read More