# After the Golden State Killer: Public Preferences and Policy Implications of Police Use of Genetic Data (The ForenSeq Study)

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2022 · $561,506

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Since the arrest of the alleged Golden State Killer in April 2018, investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) has helped
close at least 59 other cases in the United States, yet there are concerns that this new technique violates the
privacy interests of participants in genetic genealogy databases and their families. Some believe that these
privacy concerns are so compelling that IGG threatens to undermine public participation in clinical and research
genetic databases, especially those maintained by the government. Past studies have demonstrated that
although individuals are concerned about genetic privacy, they are willing to share their genetic data with certain
individuals and entities for particular purposes. But all of these studies pre-date IGG and none probed
participation of law enforcement in genetic genealogy or other recreational genetic databases. In May 2018, we
conducted what remains the only published survey to assess public opinion of IGG and found strong support
when the purpose is to identify violent criminals. Due to resource constraints, however, the survey was not
designed to account for the complex trade-offs that the public makes when assessing the value and acceptability
of any use of genetic data. The objective of this research is to measure public preferences regarding police
participation in genetic genealogy databases to inform private practices and public policy. In Aim 1, we will
conduct qualitative interviews of law enforcement, forensic scientists, genetic genealogy firms, and genetic
genealogists to obtain a technically precise and comprehensive description of IGG practices and procedures
and forecasts of its future. In Aim 2, we will conduct geographically diverse focus groups to identify what the
public believes are the most salient attributes of law enforcement participation in genetic genealogy databases
and conduct a discrete choice experiment that will measure public preferences based on these attributes. In Aim
3, we will conduct a modified policy Delphi with expert stakeholders that culminates in recommended best
practices for IGG that operationalize the preference findings. This proposal is innovative because it will
triangulate insights and data collected using multiple qualitative, quantitative, and experimental methods to
inform solutions to a previously unanticipated use of genetic data that is transforming what it means to cooperate
in police investigations. The research will have a positive impact by promoting public confidence in sharing
genetic data to maximize their individual and social utility, including in clinical care and research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10428649
- **Project number:** 5R01HG011268-03
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Christi Guerrini
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $561,506
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-16 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10428649

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10428649, After the Golden State Killer: Public Preferences and Policy Implications of Police Use of Genetic Data (The ForenSeq Study) (5R01HG011268-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10428649. Licensed CC0.

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