Introduction to Forensic DNA Evidence for Criminal Justice Professionals (Paperback)

History of forensic DNA profiling in criminal investigations
Discovery of structure and importance of DNA molecule: A Nobel prize
DNA and concept of individuality
Alec Jeffreys and the world’s first murder case solved by DNA
Early criminal court challenges to DNA technology
Changing the face of forensic science: The value of biological evidence
Strengths and limitations of DNA profiling evidence
Introduction: Power and caution
Discrimination power of DNA profiling
Genetic basis for DNA profiling
Stability of DNA profiling
Persuasive statistics
Relatives
DNA databases
DNA intelligence-led policing
Mass disasters
DNA evidence in context
Time of deposition: Transfer and persistence of DNA
Relevant evidence?
Relevant exhibits?
"CSI effect" and the notion of infallible forensic evidence
Relationships of lawyers and scientists
DNA profiling basics
What is DNA?
Biological materials allowing DNA profiling
Reference samples
Current profiling technique: Short tandem repeats (STRs)
Reading tables of alleles
Obtaining DNA profiles
Time required to obtain DNA profiles
Designating peaks
Case documentation and review
Evidential value and statistics
Interpreting DNA profiles
Statistical approaches and obtaining final statistics
Legal fallacies
Understanding reports: Common phrases and their meanings
Sampling correction and uncertainty
Relevant population and impact on statistical value
Relatives
Partial profiles, low levels, and mixtures
Partial profiles
Low level and suboptimal profiles
DNA mixtures from two or more people
Mixture interpretation steps
Low template mixtures
Complex mixtures
Y-STR profiling
Benefits
Theory
Statistics
Number of male contributors to Y-
STR profile
Determining mixture ratios
Combining statistics from autosomal and Y-STR profiling
Other DNA techniques including mitochondrial DNA
DNA analysis of bone
Mitochondrial DNA basics
Statistics in mitochondrial DNA analysis
Contamination
Mixture mitochondrial DNA profiles
Familial DNA searching
Domestic animal hair
Other techniques
Concerns and controversies
Quality issues
Relevant sample testing
Contamination
Interpretation issues
Error rates
Overreliance on DNA technology
Interpretation of DNA profiles: Objectivity and subjectivity
Retesting of samples
Adversarial system
Misconception about exact science
Obligations
DNA pointers for criminal justice professionals
Advantages of DNA profiling
Querying DNA evidence: Advice for the prosecution and the defense
Warning signs
Was all evidence tested?
Pretrial review
Suggested cross-examination questions
Discovery requests
Appendix A: Glossary of terms used in reports and testimony
Appendix B: Selected DNA issues and case examples
Appendix C: Steps in review of evidence
Index