Forensic Scientists Essay -- Criminal Investigative Laboratories, DNA

â€Å"Even with the reliability of DNA examinations, forensic scientists need additional safeguards to ensure the significance of their findings are not over- or under-interpreted† (Willis, 2011, p77). While laboratory techniques for DNA recovery and profiling are well established in criminal investigative laboratories (Bond, et al, 2007, p129), it can be argued that a possible weakness of the use of national databases are understaffing and/or under training of investigators and laboratory staff. Standardization of testing, analysis, evaluation and result presentation to the courts such as that the jury may understand how many people in the population are possible to match the particular DNA profile. This allows the jury to decide on all information presented to direct judgment (Lincoln, 1997, p26). Walsh et al. derived â€Å"an inferential model for DNA database performance using data from major national DNA database programs in 2010 using the parameters that optimizes desirable database outputs as matches† (Walsh et al., 2010, p1556). Research has taken â€Å"important steps toward identifying measures of performance for forensic DNA database operations† (Walsh et al., 2010, p1556). With the expansion of the national DNA database, hit â€Å"rates will continue to increase as approximately 25,000 to 35,000 new arrestee and convicted offender DNA profiles are entered† monthly (Gabriel et al., 2009, p408). Proper use of national DNA databases will strengthen both laboratory and policy efforts with â€Å"standards that guard against bias and error† (NAS, 2009, p111). Regardless of methods, automation or legislation laboratories and criminal investigators involved in forensic sciences must maintain integrity and professional training to expect credibility... ...f how a sample is deemed suitable for entry into the National DNA Database. For example the FBI Criminal Justice Information Service Division (Wide Area Network) recognizes entry into the NDIS of a forensic profile requires a DNA profile to contain ten or more specific CODIS core loci (FBI, 2011). As of 2010, England maintains authority at a National level under Home Office and National DNA Database Strategy Board (FSS, 2010) to regulate NDNAD entries under seven of 10 core loci requirement. These regulations can often change as technology advances such as that in England new PCR kits allow for testing of 15 loci, and as such if DNA samples are capable of being individualized by an increased number of loci authorities will have to address the possibility of enhanced core loci regulations for entry into national databases, while other countries advance accordingly.