A senior police officer says criminal suspects are now pleading guilty in court before the return of DNA test results with the hope of getting lighter sentences.
“Most offenders are now pleading guilty before the results come back from the lab. These persons now realise that once they are guilty, the DNA evidence will identify them,” Superintendent Vernon Ellis, the commander of the St James Police Division, told the Gleaner newspaper.
He said the police have been reaping dividends from recent training in DNA protocol as they have ramped up their use of science in their cases.
The senior police officer said that DNA tests were proving useful in ensuring justice for all accused as not only are they securing convictions, but they have also been clearing persons wrongly accused of committing crimes.
Though not automatic, offenders who plead guilty usually receive a reduced sentence, compared to
Ellis believes that going forward, DNA evidence will become a crucial instrument in the toolbox of law enforcement officers in Jamaica where more than 869 people, including 30 children, have been murdered so far this year. Last year, 1, 287 people were murdered here last year and the Jamaican authorities have imposed state of public emergencies in several parishes including St. James.
“The DNA Evidence Act will be a very effective tool going forward, especially when we don’t have any ‘I see you’ witnesses to call on,” said Ellis.
“We are fully committed to restoring order in St James, and we want the residents to know that we will always be here for them. No criminal element will be allowed to become comfortable under my watch,” Ellis told the newspaper.
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