Essay The Future Potential of DNA Fingerprinting - 1338 Words

The Tremendous Potential of DNA Fingerprinting Abstract; This paper explors the effects DNA fingerprinting has had on the trial courts and legal institutions. Judge Joseph Harris states that it is the single greatest advance in the search for truth since the advent of the cross examination (Gest, 1988). And I tend to agree with Judge Josephs assertion, but with the invention and implementation of DNA profiling and technology has come numerous problems. This paper will explore: how DNA evidence was introduced into the trial courts, the effects of DNA evidence on the jury system and the future of DNA evidence in the trial courts. Any new technology being introduced into the scientific community is ususally received†¦show more content†¦(Frye v. United States,293 F.2d at 1014.) The Frye standard has allowed the trial courts to answer the question of admissibility of DNA evidence. And although the trial courts allege to listen to the opinion of the scientific community, they reached their own consensus which allowed for the admissibility of DNA evidence in the trial courts. Although DNA evidence has been used in trial courts since 1986 it was not until April of 1992 that the Committee on DNA Technology in Forensic Science under the sponsorship of the National Academy of Science (NAS) gave its report that endorsed the forensic use of DNA. Although they endorsed DNA as a science they also qualified there endorsement by stating that it needed to have quality control, standardization, oversight and the collection of further data on which to base its statistical calculations of profile frequencies ( Billings 64). It would be remiss not mention the use of DNA fingerprinting in the OJ Simpson trial. The OJ Simpson trial will be remembered as one of the greatest murder trials to present DNA evidence. Many suggests that what we learn from this trial is that juries are not willing to convict based on DNA evidence alone. Although in many other cases a juror commented that you cant argue with science (Neufeld and Colman 1990). EitherShow MoreRelatedAnnotated Bibliography On Dna Fingerprinting1019 Words   |  5 PagesDNA fingerprinting is a scientific technology involving the extraction, replication and arrangement of strands of an organism’s DNA. This results in the formation of a genetically distinctive fingerprint that is unique to the organism which the DNA sample was originally extracted from. Because of the specificity of a DNA fingerprint, the application of this technology can have a substantial influence on many aspects of society. 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In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that pre-conviction DNA collection of those arrested for serious crimes is constitutional and does not violate the Fourth Amendment; a decision that will forever change the way DNA testing is used by the judicial system. This decision in favor of Maryland on the constitutionality of pre-conviction DNA testing was a result of the conclusionsRead More The Implications of DNA Profiling Essay3166 Words   |  13 PagesThe Implications of DNA Profiling Former attorney General Janet Reno described our system of justice as a search for the truth.(1) Increasingly, the forensic use of DNA technology is an important ally in that search. DNA fingerprinting, better known in the scientific realm as DNA profiling, has given police and the courts a means of identifying the perpetrators of rapes and murders with a very high degree of confidence. However, nine years after its introduction, forensic DNA typing is still used