Denver Colorado Criminal Law Blog » DNA

Colorado Justice Review Project Receives Million Dollar Grant: Will Use DNA to Review Convictions

Andres Guevara — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:17:21 +0000

The Colorado Justice Review Project has received a $1.2 million dollar grant to assist in the review of thousands of rapes, murders and manslaughters to determine if anyone was wrongfully convicted.

The Attorney General’s Office applied for the federal grant. In its proposal, the AG’s office said that its goal is to test biological evidence in roughly one percent of the cases where DNA evidence could exonerate innocent inmates; request further judicial review in any case where post-conviction DNA analysis proves a conviction is questionable, document cases that result in exoneration and close any cases where post-conviction DNA analysis indicates the conviction was accurate.

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/crime/ci_13461605

For a free consultation, contact The Law Office of Andres R. Guevara at www.guevaracoloradolaw.com or 720-379-8262.

DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated

Andres Guevara — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:00:16 +0000

Once again, it seems as if conventional wisdom is turned on its head. After years of CSI on television, the general public has embraced DNA evidence as the great “truth teller.” However, a recent study by Isreali scientists calls for great caution and a return to sanity. The bottom line is that there is no infallible system and a good defense questions everything–including DNA evidence. More on this new development can be found at:
http://www.medindia.net/news/DNA-Evidence-Can-Be-Fabricated-Say-Israeli-Scientists-56553-1.htm

One of the more sobering conclusions:

But the disturbing possibility is that DNA evidence can be faked. The team found current forensic procedures could not distinguish between their own artificial DNA and real DNA samples.

Lead author Dr Dan Frumkin said: ‘If you can fake blood, saliva or any other tissue, you can engineer a crime scene. You have full control of the situation.’