U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance
BulletinBureau of Justice Assistancewww.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA
July 2003
Cold Case Squads: Leaving
No Stone Unturned
by Ryan Turner and Rachel Kosa
Why Cases Get Cold
C onventional wisdom in homicide investigations holds
that speed is of the essence. The notion is that any case
that is not solved or that lacks significant leads and witness
participation within the first 72 hours has little likelihood of
being solved, regardless of the expertise and resources deployed.
Over time, unsolved cases become “cold.” Cases most likely to
be classified as cold include gang- and drug-related deaths;
cases involving immigrants, transients, and homeless or
unidentified people; unclassified deaths; and unsolved police
shootings. Cold cases are among the most difficult and
frustrating cases detectives face. These cases are, in effect, cases
that other investigators, for whatever reason, could not solve.
Law enforcement agencies, regardless of size, are not immune to rising
crime rates, staff shortages, and budget restrictions. Rising crime rates can
tax the investigative and administrative resources of an agency. More crime
may mean that fewer cases are pursued vigorously, fewer opportunities arise
for followup, or individual caseloads increase for already overworked
detectives. Transfers, retirements, and other personnel changes may force
departments to rely on younger, less experienced investigators to work
cases, often unsuccessfully.
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About BJA
The Bureau of Justice Assistance was established in
1984 as a component of the Office of Justice Programs,
U.S. Department of Justice. BJA provides leadership and
resources to state, local, and tribal governments and
communities to reduce crime, violence, and drug abuse
and to strengthen the nation’s criminal justice system.
BJA provides this assistance through formula and
discretionary grants, training and technical assistance,
publications, and the BJA web site.
Bureau of Justice Assistance
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