Grand Rapids Criminal Defense Law Blog

Investigators in Michigan and other states have come to rely heavily on DNA for forensic testing. It is widely used in cold case felonies and in cases in which convicted individuals claim their innocence. However, they have always been stumped when a suspect is one of a set of identical twins. Following international research, U.S. criminal courts may permit use of DNA tests to distinguish between identical twins in the not too distant future.

According to the popular science writer, Carl Zimmer, scientists are now able to identify the genetic mutations in the DNA of identical twins in order to tell them apart. He notes that rape cases in Michigan and another state were stalled when forensic scientists could not distinguish between identical twins. However, using this new DNA test to admit evidence in court was unsuccessful because the judge determined that insufficient evidence existed to assess whether the testing to meet existing standards.

Social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter is used more and more to obtain evidence to present at criminal trials. It has long been a source of information to use in civil and family lawsuits, but anyone in Michigan who is facing criminal charges for felonies might be wise to limit activities on social media. At the same time, they might want to discourage friends or family members from posting incriminating images.

In many cases, Facebook evidence is used in criminal cases that develop out of claims that started in family court but progress to criminal court when domestic violence, abuse, battery, or other serious disorderly conduct is involved. Social media evidence used in family court is often also effective in resulting criminal cases. Posts that show alcohol or drug abuse, child neglect, adultery and dishonest or false statements are but some of the damning evidence that could be easily obtainable on social media and might be admissible in court, depending on the issues.

DNA technology features in identifying many cold cases across the country, including Michigan. Felonies that could not be solved decades ago might now be reopened, and the availability of advanced DNA methods could throw new light on the unsolved cases. One such a case was recently reported in another state, and a man who police say was sought for 25 years was recently arrested for a murder that happened in 1993.

Reportedly, a 35-year-old woman died from stab wounds in an apartment in 1993. Investigators gathered DNA among the evidence at the time, and that has now been linked to a man who will soon face criminal charges. By using a genealogy website, investigators hoped to find DNA of the murderer or a close relative on the website that closely matched the DNA collected 25 years ago. They were successful and found what they were looking for on the website.

Sometimes, people in Michigan and other cities nationwide get involved in a crime without even realizing that what they are doing is criminal. This is because computer and internet crimes can occur in a wide variety of circumstances. Understanding what constitutes a crime involving the use of computers and the internet can go a long ways toward avoiding legal troubles.

Many computer crimes involve improper access to a computer system or network. Once access is obtained, data or programs might be taken or copied, and modified or used in damaging ways. It might even lead to the contamination of the computer system or the introduction of a virus. Under different circumstances, the access to the computer might form part of a scheme meant to defraud others or to use another person's encryption to commit another crime.