scholarly journals Innocent until proven guilty: Privacy-preserving search over a central CODIS criminal database from the field

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob A. Blindenbach ◽  
Karthik A. Jagadeesh ◽  
Gill Bejerano ◽  
David J. Wu
Keyword(s):  
Justice System ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dna Index ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Cryptographic Algorithm ◽  
Forensic Samples ◽  
Dna Profiles ◽  
Database Match

AbstractThe presumption of innocence (i.e., the principle that one is considered innocent until proven guilty) is a cornerstone of the criminal justice system in many countries, including the United States. DNA analysis is an important tool for criminal investigations1. In the U.S. alone, it has already aided in over half a million investigations using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and associated DNA databases2. CODIS includes DNA profiles of crime scene forensic samples, convicted offenders, missing persons and more. The CODIS framework is currently used by over 50 other countries3 including much of Europe, Canada, China and more. During investigations, DNA samples can be collected from multiple individuals who may have had access to, or were found near a crime scene, in the hope of finding a single criminal match4. Controversially, CODIS samples are sometimes retained from adults and juveniles despite not yielding any database match4–6. Here we introduce a cryptographic algorithm that finds any and all matches of a person’s DNA profile against a CODIS database without revealing anything about the person’s profile to the database provider. With our protocol, matches are immediately identified as before; however, individuals who do not match anything in the database retain their full privacy. Our novel algorithm runs in 40 seconds on a CODIS database of 1,000,000 entries, enabling its use to privately screen potentially-innocent suspects even in the field.

scholarly journals Source Level Attribution: DNA Profiling from the ABAcard® HemaTrace® Kit

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 116-129
Author(s):  
Louise Wallis ◽  
Catherine Hitchcock ◽  
Dennis McNevin ◽  
Jennifer Raymond
Keyword(s):  
Human Blood ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Peak Height ◽  
Dna Profiling ◽  
Buffer Solution ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Biological Source ◽  
Source Level ◽  
Dna Profiles

ABAcard® HemaTrace® kits have been used for crime scene stains for confirmation of human blood for many years. However, when the stain is too small to allow for separate testing, confirmatory testing may be forgone to preference DNA analysis. This can lead to court challenges as to the biological source and therefore probative value of the DNA profile. This research aimed to develop a protocol for DNA analysis of a minute blood stain subsequent to HemaTrace® testing. Stains were collected and subjected to HemaTrace® testing. Swabs were then removed from the HemaTrace® buffer solution and processed. DNA yields and STR DNA profiles were analysed for both quantity and quality. Full profiles were reliably obtained from stains with diameters of 0.6 mm–0.7 mm, reflecting DNA concentrations between 0.0036 ng/μL and 0.007 ng/μL, varying according to substrate characteristics. However, stains below a diameter of 0.6 mm should proceed directly for DNA profiling. This protocol was also successfully performed on blood stains which had undergone UV irradiation, although use of the reporting peak height threshold (lower than the routine analytical threshold) was required to obtain useable profiles. We have been able to demonstrate a protocol which, with minor adjustments to crime scene procedures, allows for both the confirmation of the presence of human blood, together with the generation of useful DNA profiles.

Developing Empirically Informed Policies for Sexual Assault Kit DNA Testing: Is It Too Late to Test Kits Beyond the Statute of Limitations?

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Campbell ◽  
Steven J. Pierce ◽  
Dhruv B. Sharma ◽  
Hannah Feeney ◽  
Giannina Fehler-Cabral
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Dna Testing ◽  
Dna Index ◽  
Equivalence Tests ◽  
Continuation Ratio ◽  
Forensic Testing ◽  
Dna Profiles

A growing body of research indicates that there are thousands of sexual assault kits (SAKs) in police property storage facilities that have never been submitted for DNA forensic testing. Some of these rape kits may be quite dated, and the statute of limitations (SOL) for prosecution of the case may have expired. Whether testing such kits could still provide useful information for criminal justice system personnel is unknown. To address this gap in the literature and to inform policy regarding rape kit testing, we randomly sampled 700 previously untested SAKs from Detroit, MI: 350 were presumed to be beyond the SOL for prosecution (based on the date the SAK was collected), and 350 were still within the SOL. All SAKs were submitted for DNA testing, and then we quantified and compared the forensic testing outcomes. At issue was whether these older SAKs would yield DNA profiles that were eligible for entry into Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), the federal DNA forensic database, and whether these profiles would match (“hit”) to other criminal offenses catalogued in CODIS. Rates for presumed SOL-expired SAKs and unexpired SAKs were compared via a continuation-ratio model and equivalence tests. The rates of CODIS-eligible DNA profiles, CODIS hits, and serial sexual assault CODIS hits were statistically equivalent in the SOL-expired and SOL-unexpired groups. Testing older SAKs has potential utility to the criminal justice system because these kits produced DNA matches to other crimes, including other sexual assault crimes, at a rate equivalent to current, SOL-unexpired SAKs.

A Systems Security Analysis of Issuance and Verification of Birth Documents Enhanced with DNA Profiles

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
pp. 1740003
Author(s):  
MARK F. TANNIAN ◽  
CHRISTINA SCHWEIKERT ◽  
YING LIU
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Security Analysis ◽  
Birth Certificate ◽  
Birth Certificates ◽  
Security Measures ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Processing Times ◽  
Systems Security ◽  
Dna Profiles

The use of biometrics to enhance identification has been explored and utilized to various extents. DNA is the most reliable and stable biometric that remains unchanged throughout an individual’s lifetime. Advancements in DNA analysis, in terms of reduced cost and faster processing times, make the use of DNA as a biometric more feasible over time. Since DNA data is of a sensitive nature, privacy and ethical concerns would have to be carefully considered before large-scale adoption for use in identity documents. Birth certificates are a fundamental document used by a person for identification. However, it does not contain any means of authentication beyond possession of the document. This paper examines the security measures that would be required if birth certificates were embedded with DNA profile information. The U.S. FBI CODIS approach is referred to, being an established standard for human DNA profiling and identification. Effects on the issuance and verification network for birth certificate documents are explored, in addition to the security threats.

scholarly journals Investigating the Ethics of DNA Collection by CODIS

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanay Subramanian ◽  
Alicia Kerr
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Index System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Major Contributor ◽  
Red Flags ◽  
Forensic Evidence ◽  
Dna Index ◽  
Dna Collection ◽  
Dna Profiles

America's criminal justice system has experienced controversy for decades and it seems as if the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), an FBI criminal justice database that stores the DNA profiles of millions of Americans, is a major contributor to it. Due to CODIS, an individual’s DNA is collected and permanently stored upon arrest, resulting in major red flags like privacy violations and marginalization. However, there are potential solutions - although each has its drawbacks - to this problem, in order of increasing efficacy: mandating the DNA collection of all Americans to alleviate biases, adopting a solely fingerprint-based system as forensic evidence, and terminating CODIS entirely.

scholarly journals Evocation of DNA from the Blood Sample Mixed with Road Concrete- A Forensic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Humic Acid ◽  
Blood Sample ◽  
Biological Sample ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Crime Scene ◽  
Dna Profiling ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
Str Analysis ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Soil Particles

Several types of biological samples are recovered in different conditions in various types of crimes. Sometimes, due to mishandling of the evidence they do not produce good results. Blood is a common type of biological sample found at crime scene involving hitand-run, murder and various sexual assaults, etc. In the cases such as hit and run, the blood gets mixed up with the soil and act as resistance in obtaining proper DNA profiling of a victim or a suspect. The advanced technologies for DNA profiling like STR analysis help in the identification of a criminal even if there is not much quantity of biological sample from the crime scene. But non-scientific procedure of blood collection and preservation reduces the chances of amplification of DNA. Additionally, in many outdoor cases blood sample contaminated with soil becomes problematic because of the presence of humic acid in soil. Humic acid inhibits the amplification of DNA and leads to unsuccessful profiling of DNA. The inhibitors in the samples act as obstacle in the cases where blood is lifted from the surface of earth and lead to the unsuccessful DNA analysis. PCR artifacts like partial profiles, multi-peaks, or complete failure of DNA profile can be seen in STR profiles obtained from contaminated samples. In this study, we reviewed the blood samples recovered from different surfaces (wall of plaster, cemented floor pieces, black road concrete) over a period of 5 to 36 months. This study concludes that the sample containing less soil particles yield DNA higher than the samples containing high amount of soil particles.

Racial Justice and Criminal Justice

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Valls
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Justice ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Racial Inequality ◽  
Racial Bias ◽  
The United States ◽  
Black Communities ◽  
Racial Justice ◽  
Black Neighborhoods

The criminal justice system in the United States both reflects racial inequality in the broader society and contributes to it. The overrepresentation of African Americans among those in prison is a result of both the conditions in poor black neighborhoods and racial bias in the criminal justice system. The American system of criminal justice today is excessively punitive, when compared to previous periods and to other countries, and its harsh treatment disproportionately harms African Americans. In addition, those released from prison face a number of obstacles to housing, employment, and other prerequisites of decent life, and the concentration of prisoners and ex-prisoners in black communities does much to perpetuate racial inequality.

scholarly journals Mercy towards decarceration: Examining the legal constraints on early release from prison

Incarceration ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 263266632097780
Author(s):  
Alexandra Cox ◽  
Dwayne Betts
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Early Release ◽  
The Us ◽  
Legal Constraints ◽  
Release From Prison

There are close to seven million people under correctional supervision in the United States, both in prison and in the community. The US criminal justice system is widely regarded as an inherently unmerciful institution by scholars and policymakers but also by people who have spent time in prison and their family members; it is deeply punitive, racist, expansive and damaging in its reach. In this article, we probe the meanings of mercy for the institution of parole.

scholarly journals DMSO Improves the Ski-Slope Effect in Direct PCR

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1943
Author(s):  
Joo-Young Kim ◽  
Ju Yeon Jung ◽  
Da-Hye Kim ◽  
Seohyun Moon ◽  
Won-Hae Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Direct Pcr ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Specific Amplification ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Dna Profiles

Analytical techniques such as DNA profiling are widely used in various fields, including forensic science, and novel technologies such as direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification are continuously being developed in order to acquire DNA profiles efficiently. However, non-specific amplification may occur depending on the quality of the crime scene evidence and amplification methods employed. In particular, the ski-slope effect observed in direct PCR amplification has led to inaccurate interpretations of the DNA profile results. In this study, we aimed to reduce the ski-slope effect by using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in direct PCR. We confirmed that DMSO (3.75%, v/v) increased the amplification yield of large-sized DNA sequences more than that of small-sized ones. Using 50 Korean buccal samples, we further demonstrated that DMSO reduced the ski-slope effect in direct PCR. These results suggest that the experimental method developed in this study is suitable for direct PCR and may help to successfully obtain DNA profiles from various types of evidence at crime scenes.

Shame and blame: Secondary stigma among families of convicted sex offenders

2021 ◽  
pp. 174889582110173
Author(s):  
Douglas Evans ◽  
Adam Trahan ◽  
Kaleigh Laird
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Sex Offender ◽  
Family Members ◽  
The United States ◽  
Formerly Incarcerated ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Sex Offender Registry

The detriment of incarceration experienced by the formerly incarcerated has been increasingly explored in the literature on reentry. A tangential but equally concerning issue that has recently received more research attention is the effect on family members of the incarcerated. The stigma of a criminal conviction is most apparent among families of convicted sex offenders, who experience consequences parallel to those of their convicted relative. Drawing from interviews with 30 individuals with a family member incarcerated for a sex offence in the United States, this study explores manifestations of stigma due to familial association. The findings suggest that families face negative treatment from social networks and criminal justice officials, engage in self-blame and that the media’s control over the narrative exacerbates family members’ experiences. Given the pervasiveness of criminal justice system contact, the rapid growth of the sex offender registry in the United States, and the millions of family members peripherally affected by one or both, justice system reforms are needed to ensure that family members are shielded from the harms of incarceration and registration.

scholarly journals Autotetraploid Emergence via Somatic Embryogenesis in Vitis vinifera Induces Marked Morphological Changes in Shoots, Mature Leaves, and Stomata

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1336
Author(s):  
Caterina Catalano ◽  
Loredana Abbate ◽  
Antonio Motisi ◽  
Dalila Crucitti ◽  
Vincenzo Cangelosi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Embryogenesis ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Ploidy Levels ◽  
Dna Profile ◽  
Morphological Alterations ◽  
Cell Pair ◽  
Mature Leaves ◽  
Induction Process ◽  
Ploidy Changes ◽  
Dna Profiles

Polyploidy plays an important role in plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic stresses. Alterations of the ploidy in grapevine plants regenerated via somatic embryogenesis (SE) may provide a source of genetic variability useful for the improvement of agronomic characteristics of crops. In the grapevine, the SE induction process may cause ploidy changes without alterations in DNA profile. In the present research, tetraploid plants were observed for 9.3% of ‘Frappato’ grapevine somatic embryos regenerated in medium supplemented with the growth regulators β-naphthoxyacetic acid (10 µM) and N6-benzylaminopurine (4.4 µM). Autotetraploid plants regenerated via SE without detectable changes in the DNA profiles were transferred in field conditions to analyze the effect of polyploidization. Different ploidy levels induced several anatomical and morphological changes of the shoots and mature leaves. Alterations have been also observed in stomata. The length and width of stomata of tetraploid leaves were 39.9 and 18.6% higher than diploids, respectively. The chloroplast number per guard cell pair was higher (5.2%) in tetraploid leaves. On the contrary, the stomatal index was markedly decreased (12%) in tetraploid leaves. The observed morphological alterations might be useful traits for breeding of grapevine varieties in a changing environment.

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