Abstract

The role of forensic evidence in the criminal justice process is an important topic that is significant from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The present study is dedicated to a critical analysis of the role of this evidence in the U.S. criminal justice process with a focus on its significance in homicide cases. Specifically, this dissertation examines the implications of using DNA and fingerprint evidence for convictions in U.S. homicide cases by analyzing the role of DNA and fingerprint evidence in the prosecution of “hot” and “cold” homicide cases, discussing the main ways in which forensic evidence assists with prosecuting criminal cases, and identifying significant challenges associated with the use of DNA and fingerprint evidence in homicide investigations. The researcher adopted the method of qualitative content analysis to analyze various criminal cases (n=54), mostly homicides. Examination of secondary data on the legal and ethical aspects of using DNA and fingerprint evidence evaluated challenges associated with DNA and fingerprint analysis techniques, advancement of DNA databases, and other topics relevant to the research problem. The results of the study suggest that DNA and fingerprint evidence play a substantial role in investigating and prosecuting homicides and other crimes in the U.S. At the same time, the link between their use and the likelihood of reaching an accurate verdict is not straightforward for several reasons, such as the exoneration of the innocent based on the results of DNA analysis, inadmissibility issues, and the value for money factor. DNA evidence was found to be much more significant in cold cases than in open homicide investigations still actively pursued, since advanced techniques like familial DNA analysis can locate suspects and link them to crime scenes. The role of DNA and fingerprint evidence in the criminal justice process is multifaceted and ranges from corroborating other types of evidence to serving as the main vehicle of the investigative process. Monetary efficiency factors have been specifically identified as a ii critical issue related to the research problem. Due to the high costs of most advanced DNA analysis techniques, their use is reserved for high-profile cases. In addition, while ethics and reliability concerns are not among the key barriers to the utilization of DNA and fingerprint evidence, admissibility issues often prevent prosecutors from using this evidence to reach a guilty verdict. The results of the study provide a set of avenues for future research and a series of practical recommendations for optimizing the use of DNA and fingerprint evidence in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases in the U.S. A comparative analysis of Sharia law as implemented in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes significant legal and procedural differences from the U.S.

Subject Area

Law

Degree Date

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

S.J.D.

Department

Dedman School of Law

Advisor

Anna Offit

Number of Pages

321

Format

.pdf

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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