Legislative framework and value of the forensic DNA examination of health-related information for crime investigation

Abstract

Needs of the crime investigation cause all the more increasing expansion of the range of forensic DNA research, including such vulnerable areas as familial searching, mass DNA testing, forensic DNA phenotyping. Against this background, in the conditions of the rapid worldwide development of the medical molecular genetics, there is every reason to expect a revision of the position in regard to the admissibility of the forensic research DNA information about health. Foreseeing the emergence of such a situation makes the development of timely strict legal regulation of this kind of research necessary. This also makes appropriate the consideration of the potential of forensic research of the DNA regions associated with genetic diseases. The article deals with analysis of both national and international legislations in relation to the admissibility of forensic research health-related information. It also studies the potential and prospects of such a research, given its complexity, for forensics. The consideration shows that in spite of a great number of problems, research of health-related DNA regions is of forensic value and it is able to add new dimensions for police in investigating crimes. If allowed, heritable signs can serve as important search information in cases where there is no suspect, or in identification of victims of crimes or accidents.