Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Marrero, Manuel

Titel

Sharing of DNA Profiles: The Role of Genetic Genealogy in Criminal Investigations: A Cross-sectional Survey Research Design

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Law enforcement’s use of genetic genealogy is one of the latest technological advancements being utilized today to identify a criminal offender when all other investigative methods have failed. Despite its obvious benefits, law enforcement’s access to genealogical databases has faced a number of challenges. This study served to examine the characteristics that drive genetic genealogy customers’ choice to share or not share their genealogical profile with law enforcement. In this quantitative study, a 12-question survey with five demographic questions and seven Likert-style questions was distributed to 220 genetic genealogy customers to determine whether predictions could be made regarding a genetic genealogy customer’s decision to share their genealogical profile with law enforcement. The study results showed customers’ level of knowledge that law enforcement is not permitted to share their genealogical profiles with any party outside their criminal investigation was a significant predictor in a genetic genealogy customer’s decision to share their genealogical profile with law enforcement. These findings suggest that as a genetic genealogy customer’s knowledge of the restrictions placed on criminal investigators increases, the chances of them choosing to share their genealogical profile with law enforcement will also increase by a factor of 1.536%. These results may allow for increased access to genetic genealogy databases through the development of new policies, procedures, and strategies aimed at increasing genetic genealogy customer’s knowledge of how law enforcement uses genetic genealogy databases in their criminal investigations. Examination of a larger sample of genetic genealogy customers may provide future studies with more conclusive and generalizable results and further narrow the focus of any interventions designed to increase law enforcement investigators’ access to these valuable databases.