DNA Legal Expert Chris Asplen
Posted by Rich Newman on Sep 11, 2016
Our guest speaker at the September 7, 2016 dinner meeting was Chris Asplen. Chris was introduced by Karen Lasorda, who told us that his focus is on child abuse and domestic violence issues.
Chris is a Yardley, PA attorney who served as an Assistant US Attorney as well as Executive Director of the National Commission on the Future of DNA Evidence under the United States Department of Justice. During this time he was appointed Team Leader for the White House Initiative on Law Enforcement Technology, representing the Department of Justice’s Office of Science and Technology Policy. He was also hired by the Department of Justice as the Chief Faculty Member for the President’s Initiative on DNA’s Training for Officers of the Court.
Chris then shared the following with us:
- He was working in the District Attorney’s Office when DNA testing began to be utilized.
- According to Chris, DNA testing has improved criminal justice more than anything in the past 300 years.
- DNA testing exonerated people who were property convicted under the criminal justice system, but who were actually innocent.
- Chris has travelled to over 40 countries because of the potential international applications and implications of DNA testing.
- Chris focused on South Africa, which is one of the most violent countries in the world. Chris said that while South Africa had one of the most sophisticated DNA labs in the world, they did not have a DNA database, which is necessary to compare the DNA results to. Chris feels that the lack of a DNA database stems from apartheid in South Africa.
- In addition, Chris pointed out that South Africa has a problem with body part trafficking. He wanted to use DNA to stop the problem; however, his requests were denied due to the power and influence of African Witch Doctors.
- Chris would also like to see DNA testing used in South Sudan to combat the genocide problem taking place there. He feels that a rapid response team from the U.N. could address the dynamic immediately. Furthermore, if there was a DNA database of U.N. soldiers it would address the distrust these countries have towards the soldiers, who are often accused of raping civilians. DNA testing could prove or disprove these allegations.
- Chris shared with us how DNA testing was used to free a man wrongfully imprisoned in the Philippines.
All in all it was a riveting presentation from Chris. We were fortunate to have him speak at the meeting.