Criminal Justice Forensics & DNA: Thesis

At the time that Byrd was tried in 1985 DNA technology was not capable of forensic analysis of biological evidence however; in 1997 a comparison was conducted of Byrd's DNA with the bodily fluid in the rape kit that had been collected at the time of the incident resulting in Byrd's exoneration for this crime. The importance of proper preservation of biological evidence is highlighted in this case and not only for the purpose of obtaining a conviction but also for the purpose of ensuring that the wrong individual is not charged, found guilty and sentenced to prison for a crime that they did not commit.

VI. Most Common Applications of Blood Evidence

The work of George Schiro entitled: "Collection and Preservation of Blood Evidence from Crime Scenes" states that prior to the documentation and collection of blood evidence the value of the evidence must be recognized by the crime scene investigator and "how it fits in the overall events associated with the crime." (nd) Schiro states that the most common applications of blood evidence are those as follows:

(1) Finding blood with the victim's genetic markers (ABO blood type, DNA profile, etc.) on the suspect, on something in the suspect's possession, or something associated with the suspect (such as the suspect's fingerprints);

(2) Finding blood with the suspect's genetic markers on the victim, on something in the victim s possession, or something associated with the victim; and (3) Investigative information determined from blood spatter and/or blood location. (Schiro, nd)

VII. The Mobile Evidence Preservation System (MEPS)

It is reported by Forensics Solutions, Inc. In the work entitled: "The Mobile Evidence Preservation System (MEPS) that a new Mobile Evidence Preservation system (MEPS) provides the capacity to "properly and safely collect, store and preserve forensic evidence right at the crime scene." (Forensic Solutions, Inc., nd) This system allows for higher standards in the collection and preservation of evidence including the reduction of bacterial degradation "by provision separate cool/dry storage compartments for biological hair, fiber and trace evidence. Furthermore the HEPA filters are stated to "eliminate contamination from compartment to compartment, and item to item." (Forensic Solutions, Inc., nd) MEPS is stated to meet "OSHA and other state and federal health standards by immediately reducing staff exposure to blood-borne pathogens and infectious diseases." (Forensic Solutions, Inc., nd)

Summary & Conclusion

This work has related the importance of proper biological evidence collection and preservation. The importance of the proper performance of these criminal investigation tasks is not solely focused towards gaining convictions but as well the proper performance of these tasks may many times be the only thing standing between an individual who is innocent of a crime with which they have been charged and their wrongful conviction. The criminal investigator must be diligent in the collection and preservation of biological evidence in the area of forensics.

Bibliography

Catalin, Marian; Andrei, Anghel, and Mitrasca, Oana (nd) Modern Methods of Collection and Preservation of Biological Evidence for Human Identification by DNA Analysis. Biochemistry Department, "Victor Babes" University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Timisoara. Online available at: http://www.oglethorpe.edu/faculty/~k_aufderheide/Forensic_Science/Web_Documents/Catalin_Andrei_Mitrasca.pdf

Jones, Cynthia E. (2005) Evidence Destroyed, Innocence Lost: The Preservation of Biological Evidence Under Innocence Protection Statues. The American Criminal Law Review. 1 Oct 2005. Online available at: http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/laws/1047368-1.html

Ladd, HC and Ladd, C. (2001) Preservation and Collection of Biological Evidence. Croat Med J. 2001 Jun;42(3):225-8. Online available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11387627

Schiro, George (nd) Collection and Preservation of Blood Evidence From Crime Scenes. Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory. Online available at: http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/blood.html

The Mobile Evidence Preservation System (MEPS) Date Unknown. Forensic Solutions Inc. Online available at: http://www.forensicsolutionsinc.com/meps.html