Insights
Articles from Christine Burke on police practices, constitutional policing, DNA evidence, and forensic genetic genealogy—written for attorneys, investigators, and the courts.
Constitutional Policing and DNA Evidence
The Colorado Court of Appeals treated DNA used for identification differently from broader genetic analysis. That distinction—and the divided court behind it—matters.
Read the articlePolice Practices and Expert Analysis
A prior reprimand is not proof of later misconduct. But a disciplined review of personnel records can show whether supervisors recognized recurring risks, responded appropriately, and followed through.
Read the articlePolice Practices and Accountability
An officer can face criminal charges, termination, and certification review arising from the same event—but those decisions are not interchangeable. Each system asks a different question, uses different procedures, and creates different records.
Read the articlePolice Practices and Procedures
A lawful arrest and a case prosecutors can prove at trial are not the same thing. To evaluate the arrest fairly, start with what officers knew at the time—not what everyone learned months later.
Read the articlePolice Procedure & Investigations
The Supreme Court’s 2026 decision in Chatrie v. United States established that police conduct a Fourth Amendment search when they obtain a person’s Google Location History through a geofence process. The decision did not ban geofence warrants or decide whether the warrant in Chatrie was reasonable.
Read the articleIf you are working through a police-practices, DNA, or digital-evidence issue, I can help you reconstruct the investigative record and identify what the file actually supports. Request a confidential case review.
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