Evaluation of the "DNA Category Table": A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Strategy Proposed by the Present System in Judicial Investigations
(2025) European Academy of Forensic Science — Location: Dublin (26.May.2025)
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- Abstract
- In the context of the intervention of crime scene investigators (CSI) at the scene of a crime, a report of their intervention will be produced, including a list of the objects and traces collected. Triaging of traces in the early steps of the criminal justice process is essential for the overall process. Current forensic science practices face pressures of efficiency and resource limitations, making triage decisions crucial. The "DNA Category table" provided in the CSI report in Belgium aims at standardising this decision-step based on the analysis success rate and the potential source of the DNA trace, and thus the value of the link with the person of interest. By using a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of closed cases (homicides and robberies) with qualitative data from interviews with CSIs, magistrates, and forensic practitioners, this study aims : (1) to evaluate the understanding and use of the "DNA Category table" by the actors involved in trace processing ; (2) to evaluate the effectiveness of the table and the decision-making factors involved in the analysis of DNA traces ; and (3) to determine which judicial cases would benefit from the strategy proposed by the table and to identify areas for improvement in its use. This research examines three key questions: the model's simplicity and clarity for all users which might oversimplify a complex and context-dependent decision-making step, the understanding and use of the model by stakeholders, and the extent to which the table’s strategy enhances the effectiveness of judicial investigation.
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Lemans, I., Divoy, J., & Bitzer, S. (2025). Evaluation of the “DNA Category Table”: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Strategy Proposed by the Present System in Judicial Investigations. European Academy of Forensic Science, Dublin. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/269505