Most forensic labs first encounter FIGG as an investigative possibility—a technology that solved a high-profile cold case, a grant that suddenly makes it fundable, an investigator asking whether a decades-old profile could yield a lead. The question comes before the framework.
That sequencing matters. Forensic investigative genetic genealogy isn’t an extension of existing DNA workflows. It requires its own authorization process, triage criteria, documentation standards, and a clear chain of communication among laboratories, investigators, genealogists, and prosecutors. Without those structures in place before casework begins, the work becomes harder to defend—and in some cases, harder to use.
ISHI On-Demand’s third module addresses that gap directly.
Now Available: Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG): Frameworks, Case Triage, and Responsible Implementation
The FIGG module brings together forensic scientists, investigative genetic genealogists, a prosecutor’s office DNA specialist, and policy contributors to examine what responsible FIGG adoption actually requires—not as an abstract checklist, but through detailed case examples and candid expert discussion.
Across eight video segments, the module moves from case-based context to operational frameworks to policy and public trust. It’s available now for $75.
Contributors include:
- Nana Lamousé-Welch – DNA Specialist, Office of the Bronx District Attorney
- Cristina Servidio – Chief Operating Officer & Technical Leader, DNA Labs International
- David Gurney – Director, Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, Ramapo College
- Cairenn Binder – Assistant Director, Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, Ramapo College
- Colleen Fitzpatrick – President & Founder, Identifinders International
- Lisa Graaf – Forensic DNA & Kinship Analysis Expert, Netherlands Forensic Institute
Why Framework Comes First
FIGG gets discussed primarily in terms of its investigative potential—and that potential is real. But the module opens with something more grounding: the operational and legal context that makes FIGG cases prosecutable.
Nana Lamousé-Welch opens the module with two segments drawn from the Bronx DA’s office cold case initiative—funded through a DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance grant—covering how cases with decades-old John Doe profiles were triaged for FIGG, how vendors were selected, and how a prosecutor’s office manages discovery, disclosure, and the STR confirmation that makes genealogical leads courtroom-ready. Her presentation includes the first FIGG-based indictment in a New York sexual assault case.
Matching Technology to Evidence
Cristina Servidio presents three cold homicide cases with distinct evidentiary challenges to illustrate how labs triage for SNP testing after STR analysis and CODIS searching have reached their limits. Degradation, DNA quantity, contamination, and prior testing history all shape which approach is appropriate—targeted sequencing, SNP array, or whole genome sequencing. Her follow-up interview addresses public-private lab collaboration, accreditation considerations, and realistic expectations around timelines and cost.
A Missing Persons Case That Took Decades—and a Multidisciplinary Team
Lisa Graaf presents a decades-long investigation into the disappearance of Ernst Moltzer, a Dutch resistance member who vanished attempting to cross the North Sea during World War II. The identification ultimately required genealogical research, Dutch police, forensic anthropologists, DNA analysts, and an investigative journalist working across multiple countries—integrating autosomal STRs, Y-chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA, dental findings, and archival records. The case is distinct from U.S. criminal casework, but the lesson carries: framework-driven coordination produces results that no single method can.
Building the Framework: What Has to Be in Place
David Gurney and Cairenn Binder address the structural foundations of FIGG adoption—case authorization, prioritization criteria, documentation, and stakeholder alignment. Gurney frames the core issue directly: “Some people have the impression that FIGG is easy, or you can just sort of attach it onto some workflow that you already have, but it’s really a separate process. Even the genotyping itself is separate, requires a different kind of sequencer.”
Binder addresses how database composition affects case selection, and why identifying likely-successful cases early builds the internal support needed to sustain a program over time.
Policy, Guidelines, and the Long View
Colleen Fitzpatrick—widely recognized as the founder of modern forensic genetic genealogy—covers the evolution of FIGG policy and practice: data stewardship, third-party testing, informed consent, disclosure boundaries, and the distinction between investigative leads and courtroom evidence.
Who It’s Designed For
This module was built for anyone involved in FIGG casework, policy, or oversight:
- Forensic DNA analysts and laboratory technical leaders evaluating whether and how to adopt FIGG
- Laboratory supervisors and directors building or reviewing FIGG policies and workflows
- Investigators and prosecutors who work alongside FIGG programs and need to understand the process
- Forensic science students and trainees seeking foundational context on an evolving area of practice
- Anyone currently using FIGG who wants additional perspective on framework design, technology selection, or policy compliance
A Note on What This Module Isn’t
This isn’t a step-by-step FIGG tutorial. It isn’t a vendor comparison or a technology endorsement.
What it offers is something different: honest, experience-driven perspective from practitioners who have built FIGG programs, worked cases through to prosecution, developed policy, and thought carefully about the ethical dimensions of a tool with real investigative power. The goal is to help labs and agencies understand what responsible adoption requires—so that when FIGG is used, the work holds up.
Get Access Now
Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG): Frameworks, Case Triage, and Responsible Implementation is available now for $75. Watch on your own schedule, revisit segments most relevant to your role, and share access with your team.
Also available: Probabilistic Genotyping, DNA Mixtures, and Likelihood Ratios and Expert Witness Testimony Skills for Forensic DNA Analysts.