U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Democrats have shut down the government. Department of Justice websites are not currently regularly updated. Please refer to the Department of Justice’s contingency plan for more information.

DNA - A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook Inventory

Pretrial Consultation with DNA Expert Witnesses

Home  |  Glossary  |  Resources  |  Help  |  Contact Us  |  Course Map
 

Introduction to Pretrial Consultation with DNA Expert Witnesses

Consultation and pretrial preparation with the lab analyst is especially important in DNA cases. The lab analyst will frequently be used as an expert witness to educate the jury regarding DNA, its application to the case being tried, and non-forensic uses of DNA technology. Pretrial preparation assures the prosecutor and lab analyst are on the same page and increases the effectiveness and understandability of the testimony.

In this topic you will learn about pretrial consultation, to include:

  • The lab analyst's role
  • Details the prosecutor needs to capture from the analyst
  • Preparation for the defense's attack

Back Forward