An Examination of the Biological, United States Legal, and Halachic Efficaciousness of Forensic DNA Profiling

Abstract

Forensic DNA profiling currently plays a dominant and crucial role in the interface of science and criminal justice. At its core, DNA fingerprinting serves to identify an individual, as will be thoroughly described in the opening section of this paper. However, DNA evidence can also function in support of other important evidence presented at a trial, depending on the location of the DNA in the crime scene. For example, DNA evidence found in a certain place within a crime scene may corroborate the testimony of an eyewitness or reinforce a particular theory of the prosecution [1]. Such interplay between DNA and other types of evidence in a case is critical to establishing the ultimate efficacy of DNA profiling as it serves the case. For example, if DNA evidence is not a major component of a case, it may not be labeled as efficacious on that occasion. On the other hand, if DNA evidence is important to a particular case, and there is other evidence indicating the same conclusions, Jewish law (halacha) and a rational American jury look more favorably upon the DNA evidence.