DNA Analysis in Sexual Assaults

Sexual assault is one of the most prevalent crimes in society today and it’s a very sad truth.  Even with the crime long closed, it will still have serious and devastating effects for the victims.  In the hopes of bringing criminals to justice and bringing peace to victims, science and the law are working together under forensics law.  Various innovations and developments are made with how crime scenes are processed and how evidence is gathered.

In sexual assault cases, one of the methods for identifying the perpetrator as well as proving a person’s guilt or innocence is DNA analysis.  Every piece of biological evidence is tested.  Biological evidence is found in the forms of blood, semen, vaginal secretions, saliva and even vaginal epithelial cells.  As long as the biological evidence can be genetically typed and identified in the crime lab, it will lend a hand to the sexual assault case.  At the very least, sexual contact can be determined and information regarding the incident can be gathered.

From the DNA sequence that has been taken from biological evidence left on the scene, reference samples have to be collected from suspects and victims.  It’s going to be a good day for law enforcement if relevant DNA evidence has been linked to a person in the DNA database.  If not, they still have to widen their suspect pool and get DNA reference samples from these people as well.

DNA analysis is further done in sexual assault cases in the way that swabbings from the inner cheek, saliva or blood is collected from the victims.  This will help police distinguish which of the biological evidence in the scene is from the victim and the suspect.  It’s essential that any sexual assault case be reported so that investigation on the matter can happen.  The DNA profiles from the suspects are then inputted into CODIS.

As of today, laws are being made to ensure that protocol with DNA analysis is standardized around the country.  Once this has been accomplished, the government will become even more effective with bringing peace of mind and closure to sexual assault victims.