DNA Evidence Supports Conviction Rates in Sexual Assault Cases
Almost 75 percent of the cases in which the DNA profile matched the suspect resulted in a guilty plea or a trial, compared with less than a third of cases without a laboratory report, says a new study funded by the National Institute of Justice.
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A new study funded by the National Institute of Justice says that when DNA evidence is available that matches the suspects in sexual assault cases, prosecutors are more likely to litigate, and the odds of conviction are more than nine times greater than cases without biological evidence, reports EurekAlert! Almost 75 percent of the cases in which the DNA profile matched the suspect resulted in a guilty plea or a trial, compared with less than a third of cases without a laboratory report.
The findings underscore the importance of quality forensic medical exams, investments in DNA analysis and training prosecutors how to use DNA evidence effectively, researchers said. However, despite public misperceptions that biological evidence is ubiquitous in criminal justice cases, DNA evidence is not a given. Prosecutors must actively seek it out, and are selective about the cases for which they take the extra steps to obtain it. In the majority of the 106 cases studied, a crime laboratory report was available but the sample did not match the suspect. DNA matches to the suspects occurred in about 25 percent of the cases. Researchers also found that physical evidence from the crime scene and non-genital injury evidence were used in more than a third of the cases. Evidence on DNA matches to the suspects was used less frequently, presented in slightly more than 20 percent of the cases. The study can be purchased here.
