Making Sense of DNA Backlogs. Evidence Backlog Epidemic Research Paper

Making Sense of DNA Backlogs. Evidence Backlog Epidemic - Research Paper Example Apart from the usual fingerprint analysis, the use of DNA evidence is employed in other relatable areas such as footwear evidence, accounting crimes, vein matching, glove-print analysis and body identification, among others. This means that the use of DNA evidence plays a pivotal role in crime scene investigations, analyzing trace evidence and skid marks. Nevertheless, despite the magnanimity that comes with the use of DNA evidence, the backlog epidemic that is constantly accosting it is undermining its usefulness. Several factors underpin the DNA evidence backlog, as shall be seen forthwith. The seriousness of the matter concerning DNA evidence backlog is compounded by the fact that cases are considered backlogged if 90 days elapse without the DNA evidence having been analyzed, or when the DNA evidence has not been subjected to analysis and the final report tabled before the agency that submitted the DNA evidence. Because of this, the DNA backlog can be split into: arrestee; casewor k; and convicted offender DNA backlog. The main cause of the buildup in coursework DNA backlog is the very nature of coursework DNA gathering exercise. Given that forensic evidence is herein gathered from crime scene, suspects and victims of crime before being taken to laboratory, processing this kind of evidence consumes time. This is because the evidence must be screened to establish the presence of biological materials. After the detecting the presence of biological material, the nature of the biological material must then be determined. Subsequently, the DNA testing begins. In the event that further complications are brought about by degrading and fragmenting of the DNA evidence from multiple victims or suspects, then more time will be required to solve the complication, and thereby making the process more protracted (Nelson, 2010). The foregoing is not the case with the arrestee and the convicted offender DNA which is less amenable to backlogs. This is because, in the arrestee and convicted offender DNA, there are identical media such as paper products which help in analyzing samples. At the same time, standardized collection methods are available to facilitate forensic laboratories to subject different samples to automated analysis at one go. Similarly, arrestee and convicted offender DNA evidence can be subjected to robotic platforms to process several score of samples in a 96-sample format. Additionally, unlike the case of casework DNA sample, the laboratory analyst needs not find the DNA sample amidst the evidence obtained. This means that the DNA evidence backlog