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Newman Flanagan
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President, American Prosecutors Research Institute
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DNA science and technology rank high -- if not at the top -- among the investigative tools available to both prosecution and defense in the search for truth and justice. Rapid advances in this field demand ongoing training for the entire criminal justice community.
The American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI) plays a leading role in providing this vital training and support. Prosecutors, investigators, forensic examiners and laboratory scientists joined for three days to consider interdisciplinary policy issues at APRI’s first national DNA conference, DNA: Justice Speaks. More than 225 participants representing 14 states, the District of Columbia and the armed forces met in Crystal City, Virginia, November 20-22, 2003. NDAA Board members Matthew Redle (Sheridan County, WY), Susan Gaertner (Ramsey County, MN), and Kim Parker (Sedgwick County, KS) were instrumental in planning the conference, and Matt Redle also served as faculty.
The purpose of the conference was to identify successful approaches to interagency communication and to generate ideas for policies and strategies that reinforce effective teamwork to make the best use of limited resources. Throughout the conference, participants heard from leading experts and teams from jurisdictions where specialized policies and protocols have already been implemented. They also had opportunities to meet with their colleagues from similar jurisdictions to weigh the pros and cons of adopting these policies in their own offices.
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The need to continue training criminal justice and forensic professionals about this revolutionary technology is indisputable.
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Assistant Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels welcomed participants to the conference. She spoke of the President’s DNA Initiative, cutting-edge applications of DNA technology, and the need to collect samples from all convicted felons. Sarah V. Hart, director, National Institute of Justice, described other countries’ experiences with DNA technology. She noted the need to build laboratory capacity nationwide and to resolve critical policy and procedural matters that can impede progress in maximizing forensic uses of DNA. Diane Stuart, director, Office on Violence Against Women, observed that DNA evidence is used more often in sexual assault crimes than in any other crime, and she reminded participants of the key role that these victims play in prosecuting these cases.
Many of the issues and ideas that were considered at the conference will soon be documented in an APRI Special Topics monograph. Another monograph, Forensic DNA Fundamentals for the Prosecutor, is already available on our Web site (www.ndaa-apri.org) or by calling APRI at (703) 549-4253.
The need to continue training criminal justice and forensic professionals about this revolutionary technology is indisputable. We expect that APRI will remain at the forefront in providing this essential service for the nation’s prosecutors. Contact APRI’s DNA Forensics Program for information on future trainings, the Silent Witness newsletter, and other publications.
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