NSC260 Homework 4 Forensic Lab Consultant 15 points Due 02/14/06

“The Chicago police crime lab has been a target of frequent criticism for the quality of its work, and lawsuits against the city by wrongly convicted inmates have led to millions of dollars in settlements.” From Chicago Tribune article entitled: “Wrongfully Convicted Man Gets $9 Million”

You have been hired as a consultant to the Chicago Police Crime Lab to propose a plan to organize their DNA collection, storage, sorting, analysis, and interpretation. Please write a brief summary of your proposed plan of action. You don’t need to worry about budget. Your job is to propose the best possible laboratory conditions and practices that will benefit the criminal justice system of Chicago.

Opening Paragraph:

Write general introduction of the challenges that face forensic DNA laboratories in general and Chicago Police Crime Lab in particular.

Middle Paragraphs:
What are your recommendations for a forensic laboratory that will meet the needs of Chicago?
You may address several of the following issues:
- What are important laboratory protocols and “best practices” that should be followed?
- Collection, labeling and storage of DNA samples.
- How should priority be assigned to analysis of DNA samples?
- Should DNA samples be collected and analyzed for non-violent crimes?
- Should old (cold) cases be re-examined with new DNA technologies?
- Should the lab cooperate with the “Innocence Project (http://www.innocenceproject.org/)?”
- What quality control measures do you think should be implemented?
- Which DNA results should be searched on CODIS for hits?
- Which DNA profiles should be submitted to CODIS, to be included in their database?
- Should DNA samples be released to independent laboratories for testing?
- How can backlog and long delays be avoided?

Use your textbook, newspaper articles, and independent research as sources.

Final Paragraph:
Summarize your overall vision and plan for the laboratory.
State why you feel that your recommendations are reasonable and sound.

No-more-than 2 pages of readable and informative script, please.
No more than 10% of the assignment may be “direct quotes.”

Tentative grading scheme: Introduction 2 points, Substance of plan 8 points, Conclusion 2 points, Overall Appeal 2 points, References 1 point.