Alumnus leads forensic revolution

September 2008

Maxwell (Max) Jones (BSc 1978) is a forensic scientist with Victoria Police. In the mid-1990s, he played a vital role in revolutionising the use of DNA in forensic investigations.

As a DNA and blood stain pattern forensic specialist, Mr Jones helps solve crimes by examining blood patterns, weapons, items of clothing and other evidence at crime scenes. He said much has changed in criminal investigation since he commenced work at Victoria Police in 1986.

“When I first started, there were only ten or eleven people in the biology laboratory and we used methods like ABO blood grouping to solve crimes. Now there are about 70 scientists, soon to be assisted by robotics,” he said.

When Mr Jones completed his Science degree, much of the work he currently does did not exist. His pioneering work on 'trace DNA' has contributed to the developments in forensic science that are so familiar today.

In the mid 1990s, he and fellow researcher Roland Van Oorschot demonstrated that DNA could be found on objects or surfaces that had been handled or worn by individuals. Previously, it was thought that DNA could only be found in samples such as blood stains, hair roots or semen stains.

“Once our discovery was published, everything started to snowball. It opened up so many doors. Trace DNA now accounts for well over 30 per cent of our investigative work and has made forensic science a stronger tool of evidence,” he said.

Mr Jones’ findings were revealed in science journal Nature and were heralded as 'groundbreaking' in other international publications such as New Scientist and Time. He is one of few unsworn members to receive a Victoria Police Chief Commissioner's Commendation 'for exemplary service in the field of DNA based research'.

Since then, Mr Jones’ work has contributed to arrests and convictions in many high-profile criminal investigations including the recent ‘gangland murders’ in Victoria.

When he is not in the laboratory, Mr Jones examines crime scenes and presents forensic evidence in the courts. One of the major challenges of his role is communicating scientific findings to a lay jury.

“Getting complex statistics across clearly to a jury is paramount when presenting DNA evidence in a courtroom,” he said.

Mr Jones developed a keen interest in biochemistry as a student at Monash. After graduating, he worked as an immunologist and scientist at major Victorian hospitals, Monash University and the University of Melbourne, before joining Victoria Police in 1986.

Mr Jones’ family has strong connections to Monash. His wife, Ann Peers (BA 1971, DipEd 1972), graduated from Monash and their son Tyson is currently completing a double degree: a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Bachelor of Engineering.