Unit 4- Group Project
Investigation officers have a hard task when dealing with suspects that are not willing to provide DNA samples to confirm. Sometimes, civilians may not understand their rights, and therefore, investigation officers can take advantage and collect their much-needed samples. Judges need conclusive evidence before convicting a suspect of an offense. Some circumstances necessitate the acquisition of DNA samples for comparison with evidence from the scene. The first situation that an investigation officer can take DNA from a suspect is when the suspect is arrested for a chargeable offense. In this case, the investigation officer intends to charge the suspect in a court of law.
An investigation officer can collect DNA samples from the blood or any other body fluids for analysis and comparison with samples from the scene of a crime. When the suspect has refused to provide samples willingly, the investigator needs a court order from the district judge. Suspects refuse to deliver their samples when they realize that circumstances cannot allow the investigators to detain them. Often suspects refuse to provide the samples due to a guilty conscience, and they do everything possible to frustrate the process. Investigating officers should ensure they have the correct address of the suspect for further follow-up.
Regardless of the current status of the evidence at hand, a district judge will offer a court order to the investigating officer upon request. During the application for a court order, the investigating officer should inform the judge about the suspect’s reluctance to provide samples willingly. Moreover, the officer should tell the judge the relationship of the needed samples and the evidence at hand. The investigating officer can then use this court order to collect samples from the suspect for analysis and determining whether they match will the pre-existing evidence. However, before acquiring the court order, the officer should inform the suspect that a court order will compel him to aid in availing the samples.