The presence of skin cells at a crime scene

Full Answer Section If I were a prosecutor, I would communicate the following to the police about their crime scene investigations:

• The importance of collecting and preserving all potential DNA evidence.
• The importance of documenting the crime scene and the collection of evidence.
• The importance of following proper chain of custody procedures for DNA evidence.

I would also communicate the following to jurors about DNA evidence:

• The reliability of DNA evidence.
• The limitations of DNA evidence.
• The factors that can affect the strength of a DNA match.

It is important to note that DNA evidence is not infallible. There are a number of factors that can affect the strength of a DNA match, including the quality of the DNA sample, the condition of the crime scene, and the methods used to collect and analyze the evidence. Therefore, it is important for jurors to carefully consider all of the evidence before making a decision.

Sample Answer Whether the presence of skin cells at a crime scene or on a victim's body should be a sufficient basis for DNA evidence alone to lead to a criminal conviction is a complex question. There are a number of factors to consider, including the strength of the DNA match, the circumstances of the crime, and the availability of other evidence. In some cases, the presence of skin cells may be sufficient to convict a suspect. For example, if the DNA match is very strong and there is no other evidence that could explain the presence of the skin cells, then a conviction may be warranted. However, in other cases, the presence of skin cells may not be enough to convict a suspect. For example, if the DNA match is weak or there is other evidence that could explain the presence of the skin cells, then a conviction may not be possible. The hypothetical case you mentioned, where a crime victim picked up skin cells from riding in a taxicab, is a good example of a case where the presence of skin cells alone may not be enough to convict a suspect. In this case, there is no way to know for sure whether the skin cells came from the suspect or from the previous passenger in the taxicab. Therefore, a conviction would likely be difficult to obtain.