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Title of The DNA Field OJ Simpson and DNA Fingerprinting The Killer’s Trail Forensic DNA Fingerprints in
Documen Experiment the Criminal Analysis Criminal
t Justice System Investigation
on Trial

Source/A Urban.org, John Scholar.law.color Web.wpi.edu, Pbs.org, October Royalsociety.org, Scholarlycommons

uthor/Dat Roman, Shannon ado.edu, Christopher 19, 1999 November 2017 .law.northwestern.
e Reid, Jay Reid, Christopher Deraleau, org, M. Edwin
Aaron Chalfin, Mueller, 1996 Christopher O’Neill, 1940
William Adams, & Dobens, Jeff
Carly Knight, April Romanosky,
2008 October 24, 2005

Bias (if Biased, claims that No bias, explains No bias, a report No bias, transcript No bias, focuses No bias, explains
any) DNA is more the facts of the on DNA of a film based on on the analysis of fingerprints and its
effective than case and what fingerprinting with a murder DNA. effectiveness.
fingerprints and both sides facts and examples investigation and
only shows the argued. to support it. states all the facts
analysis of DNA and evidence
and not as much of found by
fingerprints. investigators

Reliability Reliable, Somewhat Reliable, many Reliable, a PBS Somewhat, talks Reliable, gives
experiments in 5 reliable, uses other sources were source about DNA facts.
different places in various sources used analysis in
the country but doesn’t give Ireland.
analyzing DNA all of the details
and crimes. of the case.
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Backgrou A report that OJ Simpson was Investigation on Marilyn Sheppard A report that A journal that talks
nd investigated the convicted of the DNA fingerprinting. was murdered by focuses on DNA about fingerprints
informati cost-effective murders of his 15 blows to the and forensic and how it is
on analysis of DNA in wife Nicole head and her science helpful towards the
crimes. Simpson and her husband was criminal justice
friend Ronald convicted of the system.
Goldman. murder.

Evidence ● Suspect ● Left-hand ● Twins and ● DNA is ● Forensic N/A

that identified in ed glove triplets can able to look DNA
supports 16% of and a ski share the at the analysis
DNA cases mask same DNA evidence is focused
● Arrests were pattern. and point on certain
made in found at ● CODIS - out a few parts of
9% of the crime database people the DNA.
cases scene based on which can ● Part or all
● 5 times soaked in DNA then be of the
more likely blood. profiles compared DNA
to identify a ● Fibers ● DNA can to the profile
suspect found on be found in suspect’s could be
and 9 times the ski blood, DNA. shared by
more likely mask and seminal ● Has proven more than
to arrest a glove fluids, people one
suspect were clothes, & innocent person.
than found on hair. ● The older ● Evidence
fingerprints Goldman’ ● RFLP - the sample, is
● Blood and s shirt. Restriction the more compared
saliva ● DNA tests Fragment degraded to the
samples in the Length the DNA. person of
more likely building Polymorphi ● DQA1 test interest
to lead to a matched sm is where used which and the
suspect to Nicole DNA is cut identifies 8 DNA
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than an Simpson, into pieces alleles. taken

object that OJ to ● Tahir puts from a
was Simpson, recognize a the sample crime
touched. and string of in a thermal scene.
● DNA has Goldman. bases. The cycler ● In order to
been ● Blood length of which minimize
effective in drops in the makes the
improving the fragment is copies of chances
clearance hallway compared the DNA of people
rates for and to a known sample. having
violent sidewalk sample and ● DNA shows matching
crimes. matched experts the porch DNA
● DNA to OJ make a and wood profiles,
analysis Simpson’s distinct stain is experts
can be . pattern of positive for need to
used to ● The variation 4.1 alleles. analyze
solve defense which is Marilyn and many
old/unsolve argued used to Dr. different
d cases. that the determine if Sheppard STR loci.
● CODIS- DNA it comes have 1.2 ● Examinati
national could from the and 1.3 on of Y
database have same alleles chromoso
for DNA. been source. which me STRs
Stands for cross-cont Used for means a is helpful
Combined aminated. fingerprintin third when
DNA Index ● The case g and DNA. person was there’s a
System. questione ● VNTR is there. mixture of
● 3 d the where a ● Control dot female
component handling short on test strip and male
s - LDIS of the sequence was blue DNA
(local), samples, repeats which which
SDIS the itself. means helps in
(state), & interpretat ● STR (Short there sexual
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NDIS ion of the Tandem wasn’t assault

(national). evidence, Repeats) is enough cases.
● LDIS is and the also a short DNA to be ● Since
controlled significan sequence considered there are
by local ce to the that repeats reliable. many
police. jury. itself and copies of
● SDIS ● Professor helps mitochon
gathers Jonathan identify drial DNA,
data from Koehler variation the
local labs, questions among analysis
do whether people. is helpful
searches, juries are ● PCR when
and given (Polymeras there is a
transmit to frequency e Chain small
NDIS. estimates Reaction) amount of
● NDIS or amplifies a DNA or if
collects likelihood section of the DNA
DNA data ratios. DNA. has been
and helps ● Frequenc ● Andrews v. degraded.
with y State ● If there’s
communica estimates (1987): a match
tion and are 1 in a Andrews between
transportati 1000 was the STR
on of DNA have the accused of profiles of
through same breaking 2 DNA
states. markers. into a samples,
● Indices ● Likelihood woman’s it is
within ratios are house and because
NDIS: that the raping and the
forensic, defendant attacking suspect is
offender, is 200 her. Semen guilty, the
unidentified times was found evidence
human, more in the could
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missing likely to victim’s come

persons, & be source vagina. from a
relative of of the ● Castro v. 2nd
missing marker. New York person
persons. (1987): with the
● Reliability Castro was same
of DNA arrested for DNA, or
causes for the murder contamin
more DNA of a ation
led pregnant occurred.
investigatio woman. He ● Samples
ns in was are
identifying wearing a collected
criminals. watch with by a
● More blood that swab,
expensive was chemical
than believed to reaction/t
fingerprint belong to est, or
analysis the woman. use of
● Use of ● People v. different
DNA more Miles types of
effective in (1991): He lights.
identifying was ● To
suspects in convicted of preserve
homicide, 2 counts of DNA,
stranger home experts
rape, and invasion, 5 store it
property counts of dry or
crimes than aggravated frozen.
domestic criminal ● In order to
violence sexual create a
and drug assault, 1 profile, a
crimes. count of forensic
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criminal scientist
sexual would
assault, 1 evaluate
count of the
armed samplings
robbery, 1 , extract
count of the DNA,
aggravated make
unlawful copies of
restraint, & the STR’s
2 counts of and
residential interpret
burglary. the data.
DNA ● If DNA is
evidence fresh,
was used. scientists
● OJ observe
Simpson: high
His wife peaks. If it
and her is old,
friend were they
found observe
murdered low
and there peaks.
were ● They
several must
pieces of determine
evidence whether
that linked the parts
Simpson to of DNA
the murder. could
belong to
one
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person or
multiple
people.
● An
example
of a DNA
mixture
interpretat
ion
software
is Binary
which
takes
DNA
samples
and
checks to
see if the
DNA
peaks are
from the
source
DNA.
● An
example
of a case
is a victim
being
stabbed
and there
is a blood
stain on
the
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clothing.
Experts
will then
determine
what the
stain is,
then
determine
who the
criminal
is.

Evidence ● Suspect ● A child’s N/A N/A ● 4 types of

that identified in fingerprint fingerprint
supports 3% of pattern patterns:
fingerprin cases should be a Arches,
ting ● Arrests composite Loops,
made in of their Whorls,
1% of all parent’s and
cases. fingerprints. Composite
● AFIS- ● Has helped s.
Automated reunite ● Fingerprint
Fingerprint children s that are
Identificatio with their smudged
n System. parents. make it
impossible
to identify
the person.
● Probability
of two
different
individuals
having the
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same
fingerprint
is 1 in 2
quadrillion
● Molded
impression
s are
created by
the
pressure of
fingers
upon a soft
surface.
● Visible
impression
s are
formed by
contact of
fingers with
some
coloring
material
such as
blood.
● Latent
impression
s are
invisible
and
created by
natural
secretions
of the skin.
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● For latent
prints, dark
and light
powders
are used.
● Dark
powders
are used
on light
surfaces
while light
powders
are used
on dark
surfaces.
● The
powders
are applied
to the
object to
reveal the
fingerprint.
● Transparen
t cellulose
tape is
used to
transfer
fingerprints
to the tape.

The DNA Field Experiment:

https://www.urban.org/research/publication/dna-field-experiment/view/full_report
OJ Simpson and the Criminal Justice System on Trial:
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https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1684&context=articles
DNA Fingerprinting:
https://web.wpi.edu/Pubs/E-project/Available/E-project-110105-131329/unrestricted/IQP.pdf
The Killer’s Trail:
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2613sheppard.html
Forensic DNA Analysis:
https://royalsociety.org/~/media/about-us/programmes/science-and-law/royal-society-forensic-dna-analysis-primer-for-courts.pdf
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Discussion

The question is focused on determining which method is best, DNA or fingerprints, for identifying the criminal in an
investigation. The hypothesis was that DNA is the most efficient method. The research collected supports both methods but leans
more towards DNA being the most efficient method. From the six sources, it analyzed whether it provides information for DNA,
fingerprints, or both. Its bias, reliability, and background information was also evaluated. ​The DNA Field Experiment​ investigated the
cost-effective analysis of DNA in crimes. ​Forensic DNA Analysis f​ ocused on DNA analysis. ​Fingerprints in Criminal Investigation
focused on fingerprints as well as ​DNA Fingerprinting.​ The last two sources focused on cases where DNA was used to determine the
person guilty of the crime which is ​OJ Simpson and the Criminal Justice System on Trial ​and ​The Killer’s Trail.
The DNA Field Experiment​ supplied data about DNA and fingerprints. For example, it mentioned that suspects are identified in
16% of cases using DNA compared to fingerprinting where suspects are identified in 3% of cases. This piece of data shows how DNA
is more effective because it is most likely to identify a suspect in cases than using fingerprints.
Forensic DNA Analysis g​ ave information about DNA. It mostly gave data on how DNA analysis is used in investigations and
the different methods of DNA analysis. This supports the hypothesis because when arguing that DNA is the best method, it shows
how there are many different methods within DNA analysis while fingerprinting only has a few.
On the other hand, ​Fingerprints in Criminal Investigation​ provided data about fingerprints. As the previous source, it only
gave information about fingerprints but can still be beneficial for the hypothesis. In the final paper, a counterclaim can be argued that
says fingerprints are more efficient but is refuted with another source based on DNA.
DNA Fingerprinting​ supplied information on both DNA and fingerprints. It argued how both methods can be used to help in
cases. From this source, it can be determined which method is better by comparing the data of both arguments.
OJ Simpson and the Criminal Justice System on Trial ​and ​The Killer’s Trail​ are both sources where DNA was used to solve
the crime. Both sources provide examples of when DNA was used to help determine the suspect. Although in both cases, the suspect
wasn’t found, DNA has helped in getting closer to identify the criminal.
Overall, these six sources provided sufficient data to support the hypothesis. Each source will be used in the final paper to
determine that DNA is the most efficient method in identifying a criminal. The sources that support fingerprints as an efficient method
can be used in the counterclaim and will be refuted from a source that supports DNA.