Forensic Scientists Essay -- Criminal Investigative Laboratories, DNA

Even with the reliability of deoxyribonucleic acid examinations, forensic scientists need additional safeguards to ensure the significance of their findings are not over- or under-interpreted (Willis, 2011, p77). While laboratory techniques for DNA recovery and profiling are well established in criminal investigative laboratories (Bond, et al, 2007, p129), it can be argued that a possible weakness of the use of field of study databases are understaffing and/or under training of investigators and laboratory staff. Standardization of testing, analysis, evaluation and result presentation to the courts such(prenominal) as that the jury may understand how numerous people in the population are possible to match the particular DNA profile. This allows the jury to decide on all information presented to direct judgement (Lincoln, 1997, p26).Walsh et al. derived an inferential model for DNA database performance using data from major national DNA database programs in 2010 using the paramet ers that optimizes desirable database outputs as matches (Walsh et al., 2010, p1556). Research has taken important steps toward identifying measures of performance for forensic DNA database operations (Walsh et al., 2010, p1556). With the expansion of the national DNA database, hit rates will continue to increase as approximately 25,000 to 35,000 new arrestee and convicted offender DNA profiles are entered monthly (Gabriel et al., 2009, p408). Proper use of national DNA databases will strengthen both laboratory and constitution efforts with standards that guard against bias and error (NAS, 2009, p111).Regardless of methods, automation or legislation laboratories and criminal investigators involved in forensic sciences must maintain integrity and schoolmaster training to expect credibility... ...f how a sample is deemed suitable for entry into the National DNA Database. For example the FBI Criminal Justice Information Service Division (Wide orbital cavity Network) recognizes ent ry into the NDIS of a forensic profile requires a DNA profile to contain ten or more specific CODIS upshot loci (FBI, 2011). As of 2010, England maintains leave at a National level under Home Office and National DNA Database Strategy Board (FSS, 2010) to regulate NDNAD entries under seven of 10 core loci requirement. These regulations can often change as technology advances such as that in England new PCR kits allow for testing of 15 loci, and as such if DNA samples are capable of being individualized by an increased number of loci authorities will have to address the possibility of enhanced core loci regulations for entry into national databases, while other countries advance accordingly.