DNA Evidence: Overview and New Developments

Registration Closed

The course is an introductory course to DNA evidence. It covers DNA sequence and the four bases DNA is made up of. The course will review sources of DNA such as blood, semen, saliva, urine, hair (root), teeth, bone, and tissue and discuss what nuclear DNA is. The course will include an explanation of evidence examination and what the purpose of an examination is. The course will cover basic steps in DNA testing, including extraction, quantification, amplification, separation/detection and data presentation. The course will cover distinguishing DNA profiles; testing results; DNA comparison, and handling DNA discovery demands. The course includes a discussion of which expert witness to select for hearing/trial testimony, and case law pertaining to the Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses.

Rachel Singer

Chief, Forensic Science and Cold Case Unit

Kings County District Attorney's Office, Brooklyn, NY

Ms. Singer has served as an Assistant District Attorney for 26 years. She began her career at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office in the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Bureau where she prosecuted both domestic violence and sexual assault cases involving adults and children. In 2006, Ms. Singer began working on cold case sexual assault and homicide cases and eventually became the Director of DNA Prosecutions serving as the office-wide trial advisor on DNA-based prosecutions. In May 2014, Ms. Singer transitioned to the Kings County District Attorney’s

Office in Brooklyn, New York as the Chief of the newly formed Forensic Science & Cold Case Unit. Ms. Singer is also part of the executive team overseeing all forensic policies and protocols.

Ms. Singer is the co-chair of the Forensic Science Committee for the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, a member of the DNA Advisory Committee for the National District Attorneys Association, and a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences’ ASB working group. During her career Ms. Singer has lectured extensively on emerging forensic and legal issues for the New York State Prosecutors Training Institute, the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the National District Attorneys Association, the New York City Police Department, and the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation.