Familial searches and cold hit statistics (Dr. Dan Krane, Wright State University)
A perfect match between the STR DNA profile of an evidence sample and an individual whose genotype is maintained in a database of
convicted offenders has clear utility as an investigative tool. Lack of concordance between the alleles of an evidence sample
and an individual's DNA profile is also commonly used as an investigative tool in that the individual can be excluded as a source
of the biological material in the evidence sample. Very similar but nonetheless non-matching DNA profiles between an evidence sample
and an individual whose STR genotype is available also have the potential to provide law enforcement investigators useful information
by suggesting that a close relative of the individual may be the actual source of the evidence sample.
Bieber FR, Brenner CH, Lazer D.
Finding criminals through DNA of their relatives. Science. 2006; 312:1315-1316.
Keith Devlin. Scientific heat about cold hits. Unfinished draft. 2007.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Interim plan for the release of information in the event
of a "partial match" at NDIS. Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) Bulletin. July 20, 2006.
Summary report of the Virginia Scientific Advisory Committee's subcommittee on familial searches.
August 6, 2007.
Greely HT, Riordan DP, Garrison NA, and Mountain J. Family Ties: The Use of DNA Offender Databases to Catch Offenders' Kin.
Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics. 2006;34(2):248-262
Hurst L. State legislation for DNA database expansion moves forward.
Applied Biosystems Forensic News. July 2007.
Using a relative's DNA to catch criminals.
Scott Michels. US News and World Report. August 3, 2006.
Paoletti D, Doom T, Raymer M, Krane D.
Assessing the implications for close relatives in the event of similar but non-matching DNA profiles. Jurimetrics. 2006; 46(2):161-175.
Williams R and Johnson P. Inclusiveness, Effectiveness, and Intrusiveness: Issues in the Developing Uses of DNA Profiling in Support
of Criminal Investigations. Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics. 2006;34(2):234-247.