Ms. Joan Van Pelt, mother of W-H alumni Doug Pivnichny '07 and Charles Pivnichny '10, made a very informative presentation to Mrs. Barbara Drake's forensic science class on Tuesday, November 15. Ms. Van Pelt, an attorney at law, shared two stories illustrating how DNA evidence is more reliable than eyewitness identification, polygraph tests and confessions.

Since 2001, Ms. Van Pelt has represented more than 30 clients in their initial commitment proceedings, tried several hundred commitment reviews and argued two cases in the New Jersey Supreme Court.

The students listened carefully as Ms. Van Pelt told two stories involving cases she tried in which DNA played an integral role in affecting her clients. Byron Halsey spent 19 years in prison in New Jersey after falsely confessing to crimes he did not commit. He was not freed until DNA evidence linked Clifton Hall to the crimes.

Suspects sometimes confess to crimes they did not commit. Forensic evidence, which includes fingerprints, footprints and DNA, is considered more reliable. In the Halsey case, a DNA match not only led to Halsey's exoneration but also to Hall's prosecution.

Photos by Rudy Brandl '83