Prepare a John Doe Warrant

CODIS is a powerful crime-solving and crime-prevention tool, but many cases will not be solved as a result of entering a DNA profile into the forensic index of the database. Additionally, many cases will have statute of limitation issues that might prevent the prosecution of the case if a match is not determined in a timely manner. Therefore, if no offender match occurs in cases in which statutes of limitation are an issue, consideration may be given, in consultation with the prosecutor, to preparing a John Doe warrant. These types of warrants can identify the perpetrator according to his or her DNA profile. The 13-loci profile generated by the crime laboratory should be clearly printed on the face of the warrant. The John Doe warrant is not novel; however, the unconventional method of describing an individual by his or her DNA profile may allow for prosecution of a case if a DNA match is determined in the course of future investigations or as a result of the CODIS system being populated with more convicted offender and forensic DNA profiles.