New DNA Test to Solve More Cases

Krishna Dagli writes From the BBC,"Tens of thousands of unsolved crimes could be cracked with a new forensic technique, it has been claimed.The Forensic Science Service (FSS) is piloting a computer-based analysis system which can interpret previously unintelligible DNA samples.It claims the technique is a world first which will boost its crime detection rates by more than 15%.The method is being tested by the West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Northumbria and Humberside police forces."

More Importantly...

[Quaoar]

...it will hopefully free lots of people who have been falsely accused of crimes they didn't commit.

Re:More Importantly...

[geekoid]

well, except for the dead ones.

Re:More Importantly...

[Hennell]

That seems unlikely to happen; it seems to be more about reading "previously unintelligible DNA samples" then mending false positives. Not to mention that going into the 'solved cases' pile seems less high on their priority's then the 'cold cases' pile (Then again with prison overcrowding as it is, it could get higher on their list...)

Re:More Importantly...

[JaWiB]

Yes, but how fast can this techinique be applied? Don't crime labs/law enforcement officials already have far too many cases to devote their time to?

Two major problems

[SuperBanana]

...it will hopefully free lots of people who have been falsely accused of crimes they didn't commit.

Two problems: 1)The system/process will be made mostly available to "solving" crimes, not freeing criminals; it's bad prioritization politically, existing criminals could swamp the system, and if a guilty criminal were released after a false negative and was a repeat offender, there'd be hell to pay. 2)While a "maybe a match" will certainly be grounds for the police getting warrants and such, a "maybe not a match" won't get a convicted criminal much.

I'd expect if anything for them to be very cautious about using this tool; DNA match evidence is widely perceived as completely reliable by juries, public, judges, etc...and a less-reliable matching will erode that confidence.

Re:Two major problems

[Qzukk]

DNA match evidence is widely perceived as completely reliable by juries, public, judges, etc...and a less-reliable matching will erode that confidence.

Absolutely right! DNA tests are 100% accurate and foolproof [chron.com]. The prosecutors say so themselves [truthinjustice.org]. In fact, this new test is so easy, all you do is push a button, and the screen lights up "guilty".

Re:More Importantly...

[malsdavis]

"From what I understand, DNA testing labs are already at/near max capacity."
Here in the UK where the research is being pioneered (but I persume it is the same for everywhere,) a large part of the reason for this is that so many DNA sources are contaminated, which means lots more testing for labs, which means capacity is reached sooner.

So yes, it could make a huge difference. It is not expensive to test for DNA, it is expensive to test every single item possibly touched by the offender. If this technique means fewer items need testing then effectively it is a cheaper DNA testing method.

Then again, DNA testing labs will still be at max. capacity, it just means they will be able to use the techniques on crimes of lesser severity.