Heating up cold cases

Abstract

“Heating up cold cases” – A frame analysis of FIGG in the Swedish forensic landscape is a qualitative research study done by Elsa Cedergren, supervised by Philip K. Creswell and examined by Måns Lundsedt during the spring semester of 2026. The master’s thesis aims to explore how institutional actors frame FIGG (Forensic investigative genetic genealogy) as a new forensic tool, problems with the method as well as future expectations with the method in Sweden. The data collected for the study consisted of expert interviews and documentary material in the form of official state documentation totaling 900+ pages. This data was later themetically analysed using Goffman’s frame analysis with the support of several subsidiary interpretive concepts such as ethical doctrines, socio-technical imaginaries (STI) and organizational theory. This ultimately resulted in frames concerning privacy-protection, ethical risk framing, organizational framing as well as framings about future collaboration and development. Future research on the topic is suggested as the method is newly introduced in Sweden and the thesis serves as a snapshot into Swedish criminological history.