Family ties: Using investigative genetic genealogy to solve crimes | Le recours à la généalogie génétique pour élucider des crimes

Info Matters

Dr. Frederick Bieber is a medical geneticist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and an associate professor of pathology at Harvard Medical School.

• DNA profiling and how can it be used to identify bodies, track down blood relatives, and as evidence in court [4:55]
• The role of professional genealogists in investigations [8:35]
• How investigative genetic genealogy was used to catch the Golden State Killer [10:12]
• Overturning a wrongful conviction in the Christine Jessop case [13:10]
• Use of GEDmatch and other consumer genetic genealogy sites by police [16:20]
• DNA reveals information about you as well as your family members — think carefully and read the fine print before you opt in [18:20]
• Collecting DNA without consent as a technique to eliminate suspects [20:12]
• DNA testing and surprising discoveries in the family tree [24:35]
• Ethical safeguards to ensure the responsible use of investigative genetic genealogy by law enforcement [27:35]

Resources:

• Next-Generation Law Enforcement: IPC strategic priorities 2021-2025 (IPC strategic plan)
• Release of personal information to police: your privacy rights (IPC fact sheet)
• Supreme Court decision lifts the cloud on genetic testing (IPC blog)
• All in the family: Finding criminals through the DNA of their families (Op. Ed. by Dr. Bieber)
• The science behind why police now believe they have the right suspect in Christine Jessop's murder (CBC.ca)
• The untold story of how the Golden State Killer was found: A covert operation and private DNA (Los Angeles Times)

Info Matters is a podcast about people, privacy, and access to information hosted by Patricia Kosseim, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. We dive into conversations with people from all walks of life and hear stories about the access and privacy issues that matter most to them.

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