Media
The Guardian - 13 July 2024
A mystery writer planned to retire. Now she’s leading a team of genetic detectives – and giving murder victims back their names
A mystery writer planned to retire. Now she’s leading a team of genetic detectives – and giving murder victims back their names
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Press is working to address the lack of official standards and oversight by helping to develop some herself. She’s a member of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board, which is defining best practices and a code of ethics for the field, with the goal of creating an accreditation exam for hopeful genealogists." |
The ISHI Report - Feb 2023
Investigative Genetic Genealogy is in Urgent Need of Standards and a Certification Exam, and the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board is Working to Provide Them
Investigative Genetic Genealogy is in Urgent Need of Standards and a Certification Exam, and the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board is Working to Provide Them
... as the successes of IGG mount, so do the risks that come with an unregulated field. With the robust set of stakeholders that make up IGGAB and its Advisory Board, we are confident that the standards and certification regime we develop will ensure that IGG practitioners are proficient and ethical, so that IGG can continue to provide justice now and in the future."
The Spokesman-Review - 18 Jan 2023
Nonprofits tackling privacy, ethics and cost issues plaguing genetic genealogy
Nonprofits tackling privacy, ethics and cost issues plaguing genetic genealogy
The other nonprofit is launching a professional certification board for investigative genetic genealogists that will test applicants’ knowledge, skill and commitment to ethics and privacy. Its founders say the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board represents a major step for a field that is almost completely unregulated, except for state laws in Maryland and Montana.
Together, these nonprofits seek to change what even some of the field’s leading practitioners and advocates call a chaotic “Wild West” environment where anybody can claim expertise."
The Press Democrat - 19 Aug 2022
Sebastopol-based DNA sleuths to help Sonoma County coroner with cold cases
Sebastopol-based DNA sleuths to help Sonoma County coroner with cold cases
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Press and other pioneers in that field recently started a nonprofit called the Board of Certification for Investigative Genetic Genealogy, a self-policing group whose purpose is “ensuring competence and ethical practice” in the area of investigative genetic genealogy." |
Recent Conferences
Institute for Genetic Genealogy (I4GG) conference - February 2024, San Diego, CA
The Board presented an overview of accomplishments over the past year, including the publishing of the Standards and Code of Ethics, as well as details of the development of the competency exam during 2024. Once videos are made available, they will be linked here.
The Board presented an overview of accomplishments over the past year, including the publishing of the Standards and Code of Ethics, as well as details of the development of the competency exam during 2024. Once videos are made available, they will be linked here.
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International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI) conference - September 2023, Denver, CO
The Board presented updates on our progress in the General Session.
The Board presented updates on our progress in the General Session.
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Institute for Genetic Genealogy (I4GG) conference - March 2023, San Diego, CA
The Board presented an update on the progress made toward the publishing standards and issuance of a competency exam. I4GG has generously made the video available to view at no cost here.
The Board presented an update on the progress made toward the publishing standards and issuance of a competency exam. I4GG has generously made the video available to view at no cost here.
International Symposium on Human Identification (ISHI) conference - November 2022, Washington, DC
The Board lead a panel discussion and presented a poster. Check out the discussion here.
The Board lead a panel discussion and presented a poster. Check out the discussion here.
Photo credit: ISHI
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Photo credit: ISHI
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Photo credit: ISHI
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Publications
"The Need for Standards and Certification for Investigative Genetic Genealogy, and a Notice of Action" Forensic Science International, Volume 341, 2022, ISSN 0379-0738
D. Gurney, M. Press, C. Moore, C. Rolnick, A. Hochreiter, B. Bossert
D. Gurney, M. Press, C. Moore, C. Rolnick, A. Hochreiter, B. Bossert
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Abstract: As investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) becomes a more common tool for investigating agencies to resolve cold cases and provide names to unidentified human remains, there is an urgent need for standards and a certification process for IGG practitioners. There are four broad concerns that give rise to this need: data privacy, public trust, proficiency (and agency trust), and accountability. Yet, while the need is clear, the few discussions of standards and certification thus far have been plagued by misunderstandings of IGG and poor analogs for the profession. Thus, in addition to describing the need, this article analyzes three relevant analogs for IGG standards and certification and describes the strengths and weaknesses of each. Finally, this article announces the creation of a non-profit Board of Certification for Investigative Genetic Genealogy* and a framework for standards and a certification process for IGG. " * at the time of publication, the Board went by this name, but was later renamed Investigative Genetic Genealogy Accreditation Board
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For media inquiries contact: [email protected]
IGGAB is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 non-profit - EIN: 92-1559358
