- 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 10 :: Collection of DNA
Topic 2 :: Key Legal Issues Surrounding the Collection of DNA Evidence
John Doe Warrants
Some prosecutors have attempted to avoid the potential expiration of a statute of limitations by filing a "John Doe" warrant.
When DNA evidence is recovered and typed, it has a unique identifying character. If the DNA cannot be matched to a known individual (because no one has been arrested or the DNA does not match any profile in a database), there is no name to attach to the DNA.
Therefore, in a John Doe warrant, the suspect is identified by the suspect's unique DNA profile.
