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The central message during the closing argument of a case that includes DNA evidence should be a strong statement to the jury that the DNA is unique and the evidence is reliable. Therefore, the match between the crime scene DNA evidence and the DNA profile identifying the defendant supports a guilty verdict. Some suggestions for dealing with challenges to DNA evidence might include:
- Coincidental match: DNA is sufficiently unique that other than a case involving identical twins, a coincidental match between two unrelated individuals is statistically unlikely.
- Lab error: A prosecutor should focus on a lab's internal reviews, external accreditations, protocols, second examiner review process, examiner proficiency exams, and other forms of checks and balances.
Additional Online Courses
- What Every First Responding Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Collecting DNA Evidence at Property Crime Scenes
- DNA – A Prosecutor’s Practice Notebook
- Crime Scene and DNA Basics
- Laboratory Safety Programs
- DNA Amplification
- Population Genetics and Statistics
- Non-STR DNA Markers: SNPs, Y-STRs, LCN and mtDNA
- Firearms Examiner Training
- Forensic DNA Education for Law Enforcement Decisionmakers
- What Every Investigator and Evidence Technician Should Know About DNA Evidence
- Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court
- Law 101: Legal Guide for the Forensic Expert
- Laboratory Orientation and Testing of Body Fluids and Tissues
- DNA Extraction and Quantitation
- STR Data Analysis and Interpretation
- Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony
- Español for Law Enforcement
- Amplified DNA Product Separation for Forensic Analysts