Criminal checks

If you have any exposure to the media, you probably already know that the paternity of Anna-Nicole Smith’s child has been determined, thus influencing the fate of the infant and its half-billion inheritance. The identity of the father — not the man Smith was living with — was determined by a DNA test. DNA paternity tests are extremely accurate, as evidenced by the fact that the various claimants to the child immediately agreed with the result (although her grandmother is still fighting for custody).

DNA tests can play an important role in background checks as well. Blood, skin, and various bodily fluids all contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which uniquely identifies the individual to whom it belongs. If any of these are left behind at a crime scene, they can be used to identify — or clear — a suspect. DNA sequences can be stored in computer-friendly form, making it possible to search milliions of entries. Since many crimes are committed by repeat offenders, it was decided to begin collecting DNA sample from certain convicts. In 1990, the FBI began the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) with 14 states. The […]