The Legal Challenges of DNA Evidence
DNA evidence has become a crucial tool in the criminal justice system, but it has also faced legal challenges that have implications for truth and justice in forensic science.
Exceptional Legal Status of DNA Evidence
The scientific status of forensic DNA evidence has evolved over the years. Initially challenged in the scientific literature and courts of law, by the late 1990s, it was being granted exceptional legal status
.
Legal Implications and Challenges
The legal implications of forensic DNA evidence involve important procedural and evidentiary rules that affect its use in the criminal justice system. These rules have been the subject of dispute in court, and there have been ongoing legal developments in this area
.
Objective Status and Administrative Accountability
The exceptional legal status of DNA evidence is tied to systems of administrative accountability, which provide a basis for its administrative objectivity. This suggests that DNA evidence remains bound within the context of ordinary organizational and practical routines and is not a transcendent source of truth in the criminal justice system
.
Impact on Criminal Defense Cases
DNA evidence has had a profound impact on criminal defense cases, as it has the power to exonerate the wrongfully accused, strengthen defense arguments, and challenge the prosecution’s case. Defense attorneys may challenge the qualifications or credibility of prosecution experts and offer their own experts to provide alternative interpretations of the evidence
.
Ethical Dilemmas and Integrity
While forensic evidence, including DNA evidence, is crucial in establishing facts and identifying perpetrators, it is not immune to ethical challenges that have the potential to compromise its integrity. These challenges include the fabrication and manipulation of evidence, pressure to produce results, and the profound consequences stemming from false or misleading evidence
.
Role in the Criminal Justice System
DNA evidence has played an important role in the criminal justice system, contributing vastly to ensuring that justice is administered to those who are affected. It has improved the status of forensic science from a passive to an active key player in the administration of justice
.

• Previous Entry: The Types of Clothing Accessories
• Next Entry: Choosing the Right Arizona Lawyer for Your Needs