Preventing the Plea: Mastering Complex Criminal Investigations

This event is for active law enforcment, prosecutors, and civilian government crime analysts only.

Modern investigations generate massive volumes of digital and genetic data. Terabytes are routine, and nearly every piece of evidence carries a digital fingerprint. Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) has helped solve cold cases—but also raised complex questions around privacy, admissibility, and investigative standards. Social media and internet sleuths add new complications—spreading misinformation, pressuring agencies, and disrupting investigative timelines.

As technology outpaces legal frameworks, a new discipline is emerging at the crossroads of science, tech, and justice.

The Training: A Comprehensive 6-hour Debrief

This free session offers practical insights into IGG and emerging technologies through real case studies. Discover strategies, pitfalls, and free tools to help law enforcement navigate today's most complex investigations.

Key Topics Include:

- The expanding role of Investigative Genetic: genealogy in solving major crimes

- Technical and legal hurdles in managing vast digital evidence sets

- Privacy concerns, admissibility, and courtroom challenges tied to IGG Lessons learned from real world high-profile investigations

- Recognizing investigative challenges related to complex case designations

- Social media and complex cases

No Cost to Agencies

Available now through May 2026. Thanks to support from Virnous Corp, this training is offered completely free of cost, including trainer travel expenses.

Instructor

Sy Ray

- 30+ years in complex criminal investigations

- Expert witness in 100+ cases

- Advisor to local, state, and federal agencies

- Recent cases: Fabio Sementilli, Bryan Kohberger, Andrew McGann

- Specialist in IGG, digital evidence, and forensic strategy

Who Should Attend

- Sworn law enforcement (officers, detectives, supervisors)

- Civilian investigators working with law enforcement

- Prosecuting agency personnel

Why Attend

- Understand IGC's risks and rewards

- Apply real case insights to your work

- Stay ahead of tomorrow's investigative challenges

- Navigate the impact of social media sleuths on high profile cases

- Utilize technology to manage vast volumes of digital data

Host or Publisher Homeland Security Training Institute