“Truth-seeking is an imperfect process. . . . If mistakes are to be made, they should be made in the direction of making sure that an innocent person is not convicted.”

—Jay M. Feinman, Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About the American Legal System

One of the keystone responsibilities of the American legal system is to ensure that every defendant receives a fair trial. However, the perfection of DNA tests have recently proven that on numerous occasions people were arrested and convicted of crimes they did not commit. The results of these tests point out that the legal system is imperfect.

DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the genetic code that determines an individual’s physical characteristics. It can be found in the nucleus of every cell. Because everyone has a unique DNA code (except identical multiple births), forensic testing on hair, semen, or blood left at...