NCJ Number
216333
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 33 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2006 Pages: 122-124,126,131
Date Published
October 2006
Length
9 pages
Annotation
After discussing the benefits of collecting and analyzing DNA at property-crime scenes, this article describes collection techniques and efficient procedures for processing the DNA from such high-volume crimes.
Abstract
Burglars and robbers leave DNA at their crime scenes. It can be found in deposits of sweat on items the offender has touched without gloves or in saliva on cigarettes smoked at the scene and on food or drink containers used by the offender at the scene. Because there is such a backlog for DNA processing from serious crimes and DNA analysis is costly, cost-benefit and cost-efficient issues arise when considering DNA collection and analysis for felony property offenses. This article argues that burglars and robbers are typically repeat offenders who regularly commit property crimes to support a drug habit. Further, they are at risk of committing sexual assaults and homicides in the course of committing a burglary or robbery. Thus, stopping a property offender early in his criminal career can prevent many repeat offenses and possibly more serious crimes. Because of the cost of DNA processing, the collection and processing of such evidence must be efficient. This means that DNA must be selectively collected from areas of the crime scene where the offender was known or believed to be. When processing DNA collected at a crime scene, analysts need not process every item that may contain DNA; rather, they should pick the items or samples likely to yield the most definitive results. Isolating the offenders DNA may also require running elimination samples on household residents, detectives, and others who may have been innocent parties at the crime scene.