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What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence

First Responding Officers

Strength of CODIS

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COmbined DNA Index System (CODIS)
National Institute of Justice (NIJ) (see reuse policy).

The real strength of the CODIS lies in solving non-suspect cases. DNA evidence from a crime scene can be entered into CODIS. If the profile matches in the offender file, a warrant can be obtained to sample that offender to confirm the match. If the profile matches in the forensic file, it can allow investigators (possibly in different jurisdictions) to exchange information about their respective cases.

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