Monday, October 19, 2009

Annotated Bibliography #2

Forensic DNA Databases: Linking Criminals to Crimes

The development and expansion of databases that contain DNA profiles at the local, State, and national levels have greatly enhanced law enforcement's ability to solve cases with DNA. Convicted offender databases store hundreds of thousands of potential suspect DNA profiles, against which DNA profiles developed from crime scene evidence can be compared.

Given the recidivistic nature of many crimes a likelihood exists that the individual who committed the crime being investigated was convicted of a similar crime and already has his or her DNA profile in a DNA database that can be searched by the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) software. Moreover, CODIS also permits the cross-comparison of DNA profiles developed from biological evidence found at crime scenes. Even if a perpetrator is not identified through the database, crimes may be linked to each other, thereby aiding an investigation, which may eventually lead to the identification of a suspect.

link here

This article is for DNA Databases. It is explaining how it helps solves crimes and that even if the perpetrator is not in the system, it can still link crimes which helps the investigation. DNA Databases are a good thing because they help solve crime. It should be expanded to all people because then everyone would be in the system and you would not have to worry about if one crime will link to another. You will be able to find the perpetrator right off the bat. They would help the cops do there job quicker, and it would take more criminals off the streets, which would put the victim's families minds at ease.

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