New DNA Profiler May Help a Crime Law Attorney Clear the Innocent Faster
There is an exciting development in the world of crime scene investigation. A technologically advanced machine allows law enforcement to obtain a complete DNA profile in just two hours’ time. This development is beneficial to any crime law attorney in Los Angeles and an innocent suspect.
Current DNA Profiling System is lacking
At present, to receive a DNA profile the majority of law enforcement agencies in California has to ship their evidence to the state crime lab. This process can take weeks or even months. During that time, an innocent person may be incarcerated or the suspect may have already been released.
Lengthy Wait for DNA Profiling Results is a Thing of the Past
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Department has in its possession an innovative machine that allows a suspect’s DNA to be processed faster than ever before. This machine will make substantial changes in the way criminal law in Los Angeles analyzes many DNA samples. Integer is responsible for creating this amazing equipment.
The name of this new human DNA identification system is RapidHIT. According to Bob Schueren, who is the CEO of Integer, this on-site machine generates a DNA profile identical to profiles generated in a forensic lab. With RapidHIT, a DNA profile is available in just two hours time. Schueren states that identifying a known offender while still in custody should save law enforcement a lot of time on investigation and follow up. It may even thwart other crimes.
The Process
The process is simple. A swab is used to collect a DNA sample from a suspect. The swab is then loaded into the machine. Information obtained from the swab is immediately compared to saliva, skin, hair and semen samples from unsolved crimes, as well as the profiles of previous offenders. The RapidHIT system will definitely make criminal law in Los Angeles more efficient because it has the ability to analyze up to seven specimen swabs at a time.
District Attorney Nancy O’Malley Praises the RapidHIT System
Nancy O’Malley is the Alameda County District Attorney. She states that law enforcement needs to use all the technology available to bring justice to victims. O’Malley says that this technology also has the ability to exonerate individuals who received wrongful convictions, allowing for their release from jail or prison.
She has been working with law enforcement agencies all over the nation in an attempt to relieve the backlog of sexual assault cases. According to O’Malley, a lot of these sexual assault cases have rape kits that still need to be tested. Although the system is unable to analyze the DNA in these sophisticated rape kits, O’Malley believes that with investigators using RapidHIT for other types of DNA testing, state labs can concentrate on analyzing the more than 400,000 rape kits in evidence rooms.
The first RapidHIT equipment arrived at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department in mid-February. They expect to begin using the new equipment within the next two months. This is good news for every innocent suspect and criminal lawyer in Los Angeles. If you are in or near Los Angeles and need a crime law attorney, contact the law offices of Lawrence Wolf at (310) 277-1707 for a free consultation. We are dedicated to protecting your rights.
