Abstract

TORRES, Y. et al. Factors that interfere the biological analysis of the samples of sexual assaults. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2007, n.47, pp.45-56. ISSN 1988-611X.

The multidisciplinary concept of Forensic Sciences has been consolidated in the last years integrating a wide spectrum of professionals of different disciplines. New areas of work have been opened, in most of them the result should be interpreted by the comparison with reference samples. This work tries to briefly expose a review of the laboratory work in sexual assaults casework and to evaluate the efficiency of the applied methodology in two aspects, one in reference to the techniques itself and another one which concerns the comparison between the specimens analysed and the reference samples of suspects. The absence in Spain of a National DNA Database seems to be one of the reasons in the non resolution of some of these cases. But many other factors, from the initial report of the crime denunciation to the achievement of the DNA profiles to be compared must be considered. We have to reach a consensus in order to control the whole process from the forensic examinations carried out in the Institutes of Legal Medicine to the interpretation of the findings in the forensic laboratory.

Keywords : sexual assault casework; preliminary techniques; drug facilitated sexual assault; DNA technology; DNA databases in sexual crimes.

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