Class recorded January 19, 2022

Long considered the gold standard in forensic science, exonerating the innocent and convicting the guilty, DNA technology has become so sensitive that labs are now testing much smaller samples, often just a few skin cells. The results from such tests are not always clear or conclusive. Criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, and others with cases involving DNA evidence should take this class to stay abreast of the latest in a rapidly changing field.

Class covers:

• Basic concepts needed to understand DNA evidence
• Why the size of a DNA sample is important
• Possible defenses when a defendant’s DNA is found at a crime scene, including “DNA transfer” and “DNA persistence”
• How “probabilistic genotyping” works and how doubts can be raised when it is used

Earn 1.0 hour general California participatory MCLE credit: After registration, a staff member will email you the course materials, an evaluation form, and your Certificate of Attendance (usually the next business day). Register first, then watch the recording to the end and answer the questions provided in the popup to verify your attendance.

Presented by Bess Stiffelman:

Bess Stiffelman is a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles. After a decade as a public defender in New York, Ms. Stiffelman started her own practice in 2020. She splits her time between trial and post-conviction work, and as a consultant for other attorneys confronting complex forensic evidence. Ms. Stiffelman has published articles on DNA evidence in both forensic science and legal journals, including Forensic Science International: Genetics and Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law.

Registration fee: $25
Non-refundable.