FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About DNA Justice
What is DNA Justice?
DNA Justice is a nonprofit DNA database created specifically to support authorized law enforcement investigations through investigative genetic genealogy (IGG). Members of the public voluntarily contribute their DNA with informed consent, making it available for comparison with DNA from eligible cases.
DNA Justice provides the database used for these comparisons; it does not conduct law enforcement investigations or perform IGG research on behalf of agencies.
Is DNA Justice a nonprofit?
Yes. DNA Justice Foundation Corp is a nonprofit organization. DNA Justice is the public-facing name of the organization and its DNA database.
Who can use the DNA Justice database?
Members of the public may voluntarily contribute DNA profiles to the database. Authorized law enforcement agencies may access the database for eligible investigations after completing DNA Justice’s approval process.
DNA Justice is not a public genetic genealogy database. Contributors do not use it to search for relatives or view DNA matches.
Does DNA Justice conduct investigative genetic genealogy?
No. DNA Justice provides a DNA database that authorized law enforcement agencies and their approved IGG practitioners can use as a resource during eligible investigations. DNA Justice does not conduct the investigation or perform the investigative genetic genealogy research.
DNA Justice is not a public genetic genealogy database. Contributors do not use it to search for relatives or view DNA matches.
Contributing DNA
Who can contribute DNA to DNA Justice?
Anyone who has tested with a direct-to-consumer DNA testing company and can download their raw DNA data may voluntarily contribute that data to DNA Justice.
Participation is voluntary and requires informed consent. You choose whether to contribute your DNA for use in eligible law enforcement investigations.
Which DNA files can I upload?
You can upload raw DNA data downloaded from AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, and other direct-to-consumer DNA testing companies.
You will need to download your raw DNA data file from your testing company before uploading it to DNA Justice.
Does it cost anything to contribute my DNA?
No. There is no cost to contribute your DNA to DNA Justice.
What happens after I upload my DNA?
Your DNA data is added to the DNA Justice database and compared with DNA profiles from eligible law enforcement cases. If your DNA shares enough DNA with a case profile to meet DNA Justice’s notification threshold, you may receive an email letting you know that your contribution is helping an investigation.
Uploading your DNA does not mean that you are a suspect or that you have any connection to the circumstances of the case.
What does it mean if my DNA matches DNA from a case?
It means that your DNA and DNA associated with a law enforcement case share DNA, which may indicate a biological relationship between you and the person represented by the case profile.
The amount of shared DNA helps investigators evaluate possible relationships and may provide a starting point for genealogical research. A DNA match alone does not identify the relationship or establish your connection to the case.
Will I be notified if my DNA matches DNA from a case?
Contributors are automatically notified when their DNA shares at least 7 cM with DNA from a case, subject to the notification preferences for that case, as determined by the investigative agency. The notification will not include information about the case.
Can law enforcement contact me?
Yes. By contributing your DNA to DNA Justice, you are making your DNA and the information associated with your account available for use in authorized law enforcement investigations. If your DNA is relevant to an investigation, an investigating agency or its authorized representative may contact you for additional information or assistance.
How can I make my DNA contribution more useful to investigators?
One of the best ways to make your DNA contribution more useful to investigators is to include the names of your known biological grandparents and a link to a public family tree in your DNA Justice profile. (A public family tree may no longer include links to Ancestry.com or My Heritage.) This information can help investigators understand potential genetic relationships and conduct genealogical research more efficiently.
Can I remove my DNA from DNA Justice?
Yes. You may remove your DNA from the DNA Justice database and close your account at any time. Once removed, your DNA will no longer be available for use in future investigations.
If your DNA has already been used in an investigation before you remove it, information previously generated or captured from that use may remain part of the investigative records and cannot be withdrawn.
Privacy & Consent
How is my DNA used?
DNA Justice is a nonprofit DNA database created specifically to support authorized law enforcement investigations through investigative genetic genealogy (IGG). Members of the public voluntarily contribute their DNA with informed consent, making it available for comparison with DNA from eligible cases.
DNA Justice provides the database used for these comparisons; it does not conduct law enforcement investigations or perform IGG research on behalf of agencies.
Who can access my DNA and account information?
Authorized law enforcement agencies and their approved investigative genetic genealogy practitioners may access information made available through the DNA Justice database for eligible investigations.
DNA Justice controls access to the database and requires agencies to be approved before they can use it.
Can my DNA be used for purposes I didn’t agree to?
DNA contributed to DNA Justice is made available for use only in eligible law enforcement investigations as defined by DNA Justice’s Terms of Service.
Participation is based on informed consent. DNA Justice will provide notice before substantive changes to its Terms of Service take effect, giving contributors an opportunity to remove their information from the database before those changes occur.
Does DNA Justice sell my DNA or personal information?
No. DNA Justice does not sell your DNA or personal information.
Is law enforcement access optional after I upload?
No. DNA Justice was created specifically to support authorized law enforcement investigations. By contributing your DNA to DNA Justice, you are choosing to make it available for use in eligible law enforcement investigations.
There is no separate law enforcement opt-in or opt-out setting after you upload.
What happens if I select “Missing Family Member”?
Selecting “Missing Family Member” indicates that you have a biological family member who is missing and that your DNA may be relevant to an unidentified-person investigation. This information is visible to authorized law enforcement users and is recorded by DNA Justice.
Selecting this option also changes your notification settings. You will not receive the standard notifications sent when your DNA shares DNA with a case.
Selecting “Missing Family Member” does not constitute submitting a missing-person case to DNA Justice or initiating an investigation.
How does DNA Justice protect my information?
DNA Justice uses technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the personal information it processes. However, no method of electronic transmission or data storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Where can I read the full Privacy Notice and Terms of Service?
You can review DNA Justice’s complete Privacy Notice and Terms of Service at any time.
Investigative Genetic Genealogy
What is investigative genetic genealogy?
Investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) combines DNA analysis with traditional genealogical research to develop investigative leads. Investigators compare DNA from an eligible case with DNA voluntarily contributed to databases authorized for law enforcement use, then use shared DNA and genealogical research to infer possible biological relationships.
IGG provides investigative leads. Those leads must be evaluated and confirmed by the investigating agency using appropriate investigative methods.
How can my DNA help identify someone I’ve never met?
You do not need to know the person whose DNA is being investigated. If you share a biological ancestor, portions of your DNA may also be shared.
Investigative genetic genealogists can use DNA matches together with family trees and genealogical records to determine how people may be related and develop leads that can help an investigation.
Do I need to be closely related to the person investigators are looking for?
No. Investigative genetic genealogy can use DNA shared between more distant relatives as well as close relatives. Multiple DNA matches may provide information about different branches of a family and help investigators narrow their research.
This is one reason every DNA contribution can potentially be useful, even if you do not have a close biological relationship to the person represented by a case profile.
What is a reference tester?
A reference tester is a person asked by an investigating agency to provide a DNA sample to help determine whether they are biologically related to a specific individual associated with an investigation.
Reference testing is different from voluntarily uploading your DNA for general comparison within the DNA Justice database. The test is requested for a specific investigative purpose and is uploaded by the agency.
Cases & Law Enforcement
What types of cases can use DNA Justice?
DNA Justice may be used for eligible investigations involving unidentified human remains and the violent crimes of murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape or sexual assault, abduction, robbery, aggravated assault, terrorism, ongoing threats to the public, and attempts involving murder, non-negligent manslaughter, or rape or sexual assault.
Eligible Cases do not include fetal remains or stillborn children when the purpose would be to implicate the birthing parent in a crime.
What are Featured Cases?
Featured Cases are active, unresolved investigations shared with DNA Justice for increased public awareness and outreach. They may involve unidentified human remains or violent crimes in which investigators are seeking additional information.
Featuring a case can help reach potential DNA contributors and generate tips or information that may assist the investigating agency.
Does a Featured Case mean DNA Justice solved the case?
No. Featured Cases are unresolved investigations featured at the request of the investigating agency. DNA Justice does not independently select cases to feature.
DNA Justice provides public outreach for these cases to increase awareness and help generate tips or information that may assist the investigating agency. DNA Justice does not conduct the investigation or perform the investigative genetic genealogy research on the case.
Can I submit a tip about a Featured Case?
If you have information about a Featured Case, please contact the investigating agency identified on the individual case page. Tips and case information should be provided directly to the agency conducting the investigation rather than to DNA Justice.
How can a law enforcement agency access DNA Justice?
Law enforcement agencies must register with DNA Justice and receive approval before accessing the database for investigative genetic genealogy. Agencies are required to provide a signed authorization letter, and DNA Justice verifies and approves access before the account can be used for an investigation.
For complete eligibility requirements and access instructions, visit the Law Enforcement page.
