But it does result in many false convictions largely because the analysis of DNA is subject to human error. Some of these errors are rather basic, such as a sample not matching the DNA collected. Some can be caused in situations such as that in North Carolina, where state and local law-enforcement agencies operating crime labs are compensated $600 for DNA analysis that results in a conviction. There is also the fact that it is unlikely that DNA typing passes the Frye Test, a legal standard that requires scientific evidence to have earned widespread acceptance in its field.
As with so much of life today, there are computer programs whose authors claim do a better job than people. Two problems here: the programs are written by people and the authors are unwilling to reveal the basic algorithms they use.
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