DNA Evidence: Legislative Initiatives in the 106th Congress

Fischer, Eric A

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Medicine;    Identification of criminals;    DNA;    Criminal justice;   

RP-ID  :  RL30694
RP-ID  :  RL30694 2001-01-26

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

DNA evidence is a powerful forensic tool in criminal cases. Its use and capabilities have increased substantially since it was first introduced in the late 1980s. That growth has led to the emergence of the following issues that were considered by the 106th Congress in legislative initiatives: eliminating the nationwide backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples, expanding the kinds of offenders who are profiled, providing opportunities for post-conviction testing of DNA evidence, and continuing development of forensic science capabilities. This report discusses those and related issues and the legislation proposed and enacted to address them. It begins by describing provisions in prior federal law and then discusses issues and the legislation proposed, including the enacted DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (H.R. 4640, which became P.L. 106-546).