The importance of DNA as an investigation tool

Abstract

This study has a twofold purpose in that it attempts to identify how knowledgeable investigators are about the collection and use of DNA in relation to the building of a criminal case, and to establish how optimally DNA as evidence is utilised. The study has revealed several shortcomings which render the use of DNA evidence inadmissible in criminal proceedings. The researcher also analysed other aspects relating to DNA evidence, namely: identification, individualisation, criminal investigation, forensic investigation, and objectives of criminal investigation. For criminal investigators to be successful in their investigation of cases involving DNA, it is imperative for them to have a clear understanding of the basic concepts surrounding DNA investigations and the value of DNA evidence. It is submitted that, because of a lack of knowledge in DNA-related investigations by detectives, a lack of training in DNA-related cases and delays in the collection of DNA evidence, valuable evidence is often lost and/or contaminated. This causes such evidence to become inadmissible in criminal proceedings, and has a negative impact on the conviction rate for such crimes.

Hierdie studie het ’n tweevoudige doel in die poging om te identifiseer hoe kundig ondersoekers is aangaande die insameling en gebruik van DNA in terme van die bou van ’n kriminele saak en die vasstel van hoe DNA optimal [sic] as bewys gebruik kan word. Die studie het getoon dat daar verskeie tekortkominge is wat teweeg gebring het dat die gebruik van DNA bewys onaanvaarbaar was in kriminele prosedure. Die navorser het ook ander aspekte geanaliseer aangaande DNA bewyse, naamlik: identifikasie, individualisering van onderwerpe tydens ondersoek, kriminele ondersoek, forensiese ondersoek, en die aspekte van kri-minele ondersoeke. Vir die kriminele ondersoekers om suksesvol te wees in hulle ondersoek van sake waarby DNA betrokke is, is dit vir hulle van kardinale belang om ’n suiwere begrip van die basiese konsep rondom DNA ondersoeke en die waarde van DNA bewyse te hê. Dit is voortgebring dat, as gevolg van die tekort aan kennis in DNA ondersoeke, asook opleiding van DNA-sake by die speurders, en vertraging in die versameling van DNA bewysstukke, waardevolle bewyse is telkens verlore of gekontamineer. Dit veroorsaak dat sulke bewyse verwerp word in kriminele prosesse, en het ’n negatiewe impak op die vonnis statestieke [sic] vir sulke misdade.