Advanced DNA Testing Helping Solve Sexual Assault Cases in Texas-Texas Sexual Assault Lawyers
Texas authorities are seeing more success with solving sexual assault crimes using advanced DNA testing. The testing increases evidence collection time to up to 120 hours from the current 48 hours. It works by separating male DNA profile from the female DNA, and is sophisticated enough to zero in on minute specks of saliva, semen, skin cells and other kinds of evidence. The test works to obscure the female DNA profile, and make the male DNA highly visible. The male DNA that could not have been traced before, will now show up under the new testing. The test can even help identify the number of men involved in a sexual assault in cases like gang rape.
The Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab and the Harris County medical examiner’s office biology lab have been using the new male specific DNA testing since last year. The Harris County lab office has managed to obtain at least 20 positive results in sexual assault cases. Prosecutors are already sounding very encouraged about the test’s potential to identify sex offenders, especially in cases involving children.
The test is not entirely without its shortcomings. It doesn’t seem to identify suspects in same sex assault cases, and also can’t seem to differentiate between two male siblings.
Obviously, the new testing will do nothing to prove consensual sex. It also has far too many shortcomings for us to be hopeful that it will deliver the kind of foolproof results that Houston sexual assault lawyers want to see. Whenever the merits of DNA tests are discussed, it’s very important to understand that a DNA match on its own, is not enough to reach a conclusion. There are other types of evidence that must be in place for a DNA match to hold any weight.
If you need a sexual assault lawyer in Texas, contact The Kahn Law Firm today at 713-226-9900 or toll free 1-877-226-9940 for a free, confidential consultation.
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