Memorandum submitted by National DNA Database
Strategy Board
The Committee raised the underlying operational
and business case for using DNA profiling in crime investigation
compared to traditional policing methods. There have been relatively
few formal academic studies on the impact and effectiveness of
DNA profiling. The US Department of Justice sponsored a randomised
study of 500 property crime cases, it was found that where evidence
was processed twice as many suspects were identified, arrested
and accepted for prosecution compared to traditional crime investigation
methods.
I would also like to bring to the attention
of the Committee the importance of DNA profiling in eliminating
individuals from criminal enquiries. If DNA or finger marks from
the perpetrator of a crime are found at the crime scene or on
the victim then this provides an important and crucial safeguard
against false allegations and wrongful conviction, as in the case
of Sean Hodgson, who was exonerated through DNA profiling in March
2009. The US Innocence Project provides more stark examples of
this including individuals who were due to be executed.
January 2010
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