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.

Principles of Forensic DNA for Officers of the Court

Functions of the Defense Expert

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

An expert for the defense can serve multiple functions:

  • Analyze and interpret the prosecution's laboratory report and data.
  • Identify possible errors or omissions committed by the prosecution's testing laboratory or in evidence handling prior to the laboratory testing.
  • Observe analysis when appropriate (e.g. limited sample cases).
  • Evaluate the need for or conduct independent tests on the biological material.
  • Offer testimony at trial to address the accuracy or significance of the DNA evidence.

Back Forward