Prosecutors use DNA evidence to convict criminals, while defense lawyers use it to free the innocent. A flake of skin or a drop of saliva left at a crime scene has enough genetic material for a DNA fingerprint.
DNA Serves Justice
Calvin Johnson spent 16 years in a Georgia prison for a crime he didn't commit. Wrongly convicted of rape in 1983, Johnson struggled to prove his innocence and eventually found what he calls the "miracle of DNA." Johnson was freed from prison after forensics tests failed to match his DNA fingerprint to the samples stored in the evidence kit. As of 2000, lawyers have used DNA evidence to overturn more than 70 wrongful convictions.
DNA Databases
The Federal Bureau of Investigation started a database of DNA samples from convicted criminals in 1998. For suspects and inmates who are innocent, this sort of genetic file can provide the proof to set them free—so long as they have access to this information. Much like standard fingerprint records, DNA samples can also quickly identify repeat offenders. But some say archiving such information is an invasion of privacy, and we must be wary of how these records are collected and used.
