West Palm Beach Criminal Attorney - Free Consultation- Palm Beach DNA Attorney

West Palm Beach criminal attorneys practicing criminal law must be familiar with DNA forensic issues. DNA Profiles Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a complex molecule found in the nucleus of each human cell. It carries a person's genetic information. The components of the DNA molecule are arranged differently for every individual except between identical twins. A scientific process for analyzing DNA produces a print or profile that contains a pattern of bands believed to be unique to a particular person's DNA. The Palm Beach criminal courts are seeing more DNA cases every year as forensic technology improves.

Utilizing DNA testing in the Palm Beach court involves three steps: (1) creating a DNA profile of a sample; (2) determining whether the profiles of different samples match; and (3) if the samples match, computing the probability of a random match. Expert witnesses are required to offer statistical analysis of population frequencies and to assess the significance of a particular test result.

Many jurisdictions including Palm Beach County have statutes requiring convicted felons to furnish a blood sample for DNA printing; such prints are then stored in a data bank for future law enforcement purposes. The courts have generally upheld the admission of a DNA profile comparison to prove or disprove identity.

Palm Beach Lawyer Practice Note: "HLA Blood Tests"

The results of a Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) blood test are often introduced in rape and incest prosecutions. Although such evidence does not by itself establish identity or guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, evidence of population percentages of certain combinations of blood characteristics is relevant evidence tending to establish the identity of the perpetrator of the crime.