Abstract
The relationship between law, science, and the society are indivisible. Like the essence of the law is to regulate the society, the essence of science is to improve the society’s standard of living through its many innovations. The integration of modern scientific techniques into law enforcement practices have become very crucial in criminal investigation and prosecution in order to secure the truth in criminal responsibility and rule out miscarriage of justice. This paper examines the legal framework regulating biotechnology and forensic science in Nigeria and the United States of America. It evaluates the extent to which both jurisdictions have adapted their legal systems to accommodate the evolving innovations of biotechnology and forensic science innovation in criminal justice administration while safeguarding constitutional rights and ethical standards. The paper adopts a doctrinal and analytical approach in evaluating the effectiveness and limitations of available framework in both jurisdictions while drawing learning points for Nigeria. The paper finds out that there exists sharp contrast in forensic administration between the two jurisdictions studied. In conclusion, the paper recommends interventions like law reform and establishment of autonomous agency, training of forensic experts and establishment of central criminal database to harness the full potential of biotechnology and forensic science in Nigeria criminal justice system.
Keywords: Biotechnology, Criminal Investigation, Criminal Justice System, Forensic Biotechnology, Forensic Science.