- 01 Introduction
- 02 Biology of DNA
- 03 Practical Issues Specific to DNA Evidence
- 04 Introduction to the Forensic DNA Laboratory
- 05 Assuring Quality in DNA Testing
- 06 Understanding a Forensic DNA Lab Report
- 07 Statistics and Population Genetics
- 08 Mitochondrial DNA & Y-STR Analysis
- 09 Forensic DNA Databases
- 10 Collection of DNA Evidence from Suspects and Arrestees
- 11 Pretrial DNA Evidence Issues
- 12 Victim Issues
- 13 Trial Presentation
- 14 Postconviction DNA Cases
- 15 Emerging Trends
Principles of Forensic DNA
for Officers of the Court
for Officers of the Court
Module 14 :: Postconviction
Topic 1 :: Framework for Considering Cases
Category 5
These are cases in which a request for DNA testing is frivolous.
Considerations for these cases include, among other things, whether:
- A voluntary and reliable confession was obtained.
- A guilty plea was entered.
- The petitioner testified to performing the charged act, but raised a defense such as consent, self-defense, duress or entrapment.
- The petitioner was apprehended in the act or other strong evidence of identity or involvement exists, such as fingerprint evidence.
Example: The trial transcript discloses the existence of other evidence that makes the petitioner's claim meaningless, as in a burglary conviction in which the petitioner was apprehended at the crime scene.
