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Challenging the Admissibility of DNA Testing

NCJ Number
155081
Journal
Illinois Bar Journal Volume: 83 Issue: 4 Dated: (April 1995) Pages: 170-176
Author(s)
A Sincox; M Hemza-Placek
Date Published
1995
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article familiarizes Illinois lawyers with some reasons for questioning the admissibility of DNA evidence in the hopes of encouraging more careful and thorough litigation of the issues.
Abstract
The first appellate court in Illinois held that the procedures used by the FBI to estimate DNA pattern frequencies are not generally accepted as required by United States v. Frye and by the Illinois cases adopting the Frye rule. The court also held that results of DNA testing are not admissible without reasonably accurate frequency estimates. The article discusses the basics of DNA science, criteria for a match, magnification of DNA testing errors, declaration of a match, standards and quality control, and frequency calculations. 30 notes

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