Pure Corpses, Dangerous Citizens: Transgressing the Boundaries between Experts and Mourners in the Search for the Disappeared in Mexico

Schwartz-Marín, Ernesto; Cruz-Santiago, Arely

doi:10.1353/sor.2016.0038

Cited by 23 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In this article, I argue that forensic genetic genealogy sheds light on a new configuration of citizen science within the field of forensic science. Instead of working to confront governmental officials and fight impunity and corruption (Schwartz-Marin and Cruz-Santiago, 2016a, 2016b, forensic genetic genealogy entails several types of participant-led contributions that work with and for governmental officials, to ensure public safety by identifying crime suspects and/or victims. Forensic genetic genealogy thereby shows how what, in most cases, began as an amateur hobby has become a generative space for a new type of forensic work.…”

Section: Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Citizen science initiatives are not a new phenomenon in the field of forensic genetics. There is a wide body of research detailing how in several Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Guatemala, work undertaken by the relatives of the disappeared has been of relevance in the creation and consolidation of a system that enables identification of the missing (Cruz-Santiago, 2020; Schwartz-Marin and Cruz-Santiago, 2016a, 2016b. Similarly, in Spain, relatives of individuals who disappeared during Franco's dictatorship also engaged in the identification of human remains (Ferrándiz, 2013) and in Srebrenica forensic specialists were deeply engaged with relatives of the missing (Haimes and Toom, 2014;Wagner, 2008).…”

Section: Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Citizen science at the roots and as the future of forensic genetic genealogy

Granja

2023

International Journal of Police Science & Management

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Forensic genetic genealogy is an emergent forensic technology that employs databases used by citizens to upload genetic data voluntarily to search for criminal suspects and/or unidentified individuals. Considering a wide view of the roots of forensic genetic genealogy, in this article, I draw on publicly available interviews with key stakeholders in the field, media articles, and companies’ statements to analyze how this technology is both grounded and based upon citizen science. That is, a type of science to which citizens actively, voluntarily, and consentingly contribute in various forms. On the one hand, I show how the emergence of forensic genetic genealogy is mainly based upon the work of individuals with a personal interest in genetic genealogy, who are heavily invested in constructing their own and others’ family trees. That is, citizens from various educational backgrounds and professional activities who became an untapped source of valuable expertise for forensic science because of their prolific experience in conducting genetic genealogy. On the other hand, I argue that the current situation of forensic genetic genealogy is also highly dependent on citizens’ interest and willingness to upload genetic data into publicly accessible genealogy databases and voluntarily deciding to make them available to law enforcement searches. Perceiving citizen science as being at the roots and as the future of forensic genetic genealogy has important implications for the forensic epistemic culture and the protection of citizens’ rights that must be considered in the development and implementation of such technology.

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Section: Citizen Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%