Guides
- Business Records: Types, Examples and How to Search
- Right to Privacy: Is It Protected By The Constitution?
- Ownership and Tenancy in Severalty in Real Estate
- What Different Types of Marriages Are There?
- Should You Believe in Age Gap Rules Calculation
- What Is Driver’s License Status and How To Check It
- What Is Civil Marriage: Pros and Cons
- Top 5 Most Famous Serial Killers Of All Times
- What Was The Subprime Mortgage Crisis
- Most Famous Murder Cases Throughout History
- The Dynamics and Consequences of Ghosting Someone in Personal Relationships
- What is Incarceration? Definition, Process, and Impact
- What is A Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS)
- Is AI Dangerous? Unveiling the Risks of Artificial Intelligence
- What is a VPN?
- 7 Cybersecurity Threats to Look Out For
- What are Debtors and Creditors?
- Business Ownership: Definition, Features & Ways to Transfer
- What is a Tax Lien, How Does It Work & How to Stop One?
- What is the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Cases?
- Property Ownership Types You Should Know About
- Community Safety Initiatives: How to Make Your Neighborhood Safer
- What is a Lien and How Lien Priority Works?
- Campus Safety 101: Essential Tips for a Secure College Life
- How to Know If Someone Is Divorced?
- What are the CCPA and CPRA?
- How to Get Over a Breakup?
- U.S. Violent Crime Definition & Statistics
- The 5 Steps You Should Know When Adopting a Child
- What Is Criminal Profiling?
- A Full Guide on Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause
- What Is Email Encryption & How to Encrypt an Email?
- What is a White Collar Crime? A Full Guide
- Rental Scams: How Do They Work & How to Catch Scammers?
- A Complete Guide on Parole vs Probation
- 5 Steps to Remove Personal Information from Google
- A Full Guide on House Arrests
- A Complete Guide on Marriage and Civil Union
- How to Safeguard Yourself and Deal with Marriage Debt
- What is Eyewitness Testimony?
- A Full Guide on Gentrification: Why is it a Problem?
- 8 Most Dangerous Twitter Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
- How Do Zelle Scams Work and Things to Look Out For
- What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
- What is a Wellness Check?
- How To Get a Temporary Restraining Order?
- What is Smishing And How to Prevent it?
- Spam Emails: Types and Ways to Block Them
- Email Masking & Masked Email Addresses
- Spot a Fake QR Code & Avoid Getting Scammed
- Common NFT Scams to Look Out For & Ways to Avoid the Fake Ones
- What to Do If You Witness a Crime?
- What Is Skip Tracing and How Does It Work?
- Common Venmo Scams to Look Out For and How to Avoid Them
- Can You Get Child Custody If You Have a Criminal Record?
- Common Amazon Scams and Ways on How to Avoid Them
- How to Find Liens on a Property?
- Multiple Bankruptcies: How Often You Can File One?
- How to Adopt a Child in the US?
- I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
- Warning Signs of Job Scams and How to Protect Yourself
- What Is a Ban the Box Law?
- What is Expungement?
- How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
- What Is a Police Blotter?
- How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
- What Is a Clean Driving Record?
- What is Title Washing?
- What is Extortion?
- How To Run a Motorcycle Title Search
- What Is a Digital Footprint?
- What is Anti Money Laundering (AML)?
- Guide on How to Get a Death Certificate
- What is the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
- What is Multi Factor Authentication?
- What is a Citizen's Arrest?
- How to Know that You’re in an Obsessive Relationship
- Guide to Online Survey Scams
- 13 Different Types of Police Officers
- Full Guide on Work-from-Home Scams
- Is Private Browsing Really Private?
- Different Types of Felony Classes & Charges
- What is Juice Jacking?
- What are Romance Scams?
- Traffic Offenses and Violations
- What is Doxing and How to Prevent it?
- What are Spam Text Messages
- The U.S. Death Penalty: History and Modern Usage
- A Guide to Different Types of Bankruptcies
- Common eBay Scams to be Aware of
- What Happens When You are Booked in Jail?
- What Information Can You Get From A License Plate
- Different Types of Assets
- 8 Tips to Help You Find Family Members
- Car History Guide, Benefits, Importance
- Am I Dating a Stalker?
- How to Find out if Your Partner is Cheating
- What Is A Packet Sniffing Attack
- Intellectual Property Law and Rights
- Cyberstalking And Its Dangers
- A Guide to Phishing Scams
- What is Organized Crime?
- I’ve Lost My Driver’s License: What Should I Do?
- Misdemeanor Charges: Types, Classes, and Penalties
- A Complete Guide On Catfishing
- Vanity Phone Numbers: Why They Are Important and How to Get One
- What Happens When You Get Arrested
- Guide to Find Information About a Person Online
- How To Find And Claim Unclaimed Money
- What Happens if You Violate Probation
- Guide on How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet
- How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
- How to Deal with an Outstanding Warrant
- Different Types of Car Insurance
- What Is Cyptojacking?
- What Is Email Security?
- What Is the Deep Web and What Can Be Found There?
- What Happens When You Declare Bankruptcy
- How Divorce Settlements are Calculated
- What are Common Methods of Social Engineering
- What is the Difference Between a General Lien and a Specific Lien?
- How to Detect Odometer Rollback
- Different Types of Probation
- Finding forgotten life insurance policies
- What is Bearer Bond and Why the US Banned it
- Everything you need to know about small claims court
- Moral Turpitude: Definition, Examples, and Much More!
- Misdemeanor vs Felony
- How To Read VIN Number
- How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Cell Phone
- How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay On Your Criminal Record?
- The Paypal Phishing Scam You Should Care to Avoid
- License Plates Types: USA Guide
- Effects of Cyberbullying: Complete Guide for Parents
- What is the DPPA?
- Petty Theft: Definition and Consequences
- What is a Life Sentence? Life in Prison
- How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant?
- Marriage License vs Certificate: Everything You Need to Know
- The Ten Most Popular Celebrity Mugshots
- How to Find Out if Someone is Married?
- How to Stop Phone Number Spoofing?
- How To Avoid Probate
- Dealing with abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood
- How to Find Someone's Cell Phone Number by Their Name
- Who Are the Worst Drivers in America?
- How To Find Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives
- What is a Digital License Plate?
- How to Find out if Someone Died?
- Murder vs Manslaughter: The Differences and Definitions
- How to Hire a Private Investigator?
- What Is a Number Neighbor?
- How to Find Out if Someone was Arrested
- How to Find Someone's Birthday?
- What is a Car Title
- How to Obtain a Police Report and Court Records?
- Filing a false police report
- Prison Valley: Look inside Prison Town
- How to Get Custody of a Child Without Going to Court?
- How to Find Someone’s Social Media Profiles?
- What to Do if Your Phone Is Tapped?
- What Is a Deed in Real Estate?
- Where Was The First US Federal Penitentiary Established?
- Can You Track Someone's Location with Just a Phone Number?
- What Is a Restricted Phone Call and How to Block The Number?
- Who is the Most Dangerous Prisoner in the World?
- Poshmark Scams: How to Prevent and Report Them
- What to Do When Someone Is Missing: Practical Steps on How to Find a Missing Person
- Send Money to Inmate: A Comprehensive Guide for Inmate Support
- DUI vs DWI: The Difference Between DUI and DWI
- How Long After Buying a Car Do You Need to Register it?
- How to Find Someone's Address?
- What is an Ignition Interlock Device?
- What Is Situational Crime Prevention?
- How Can I Find Out Who Called Me for Free?
- Gun Free Zone Statistics and Facts
- Online Threats and Digital Security: Trends, Types and Most Common Examples
- Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
- Court Order: Definition, Types and Examples
- What Does a Fingerprint Background Report Show?
- How to Check Your Criminal Record?
- What is Tort Law?
- How to Calculate Child Support
- Property Rights: Definition, and Characteristics
- 12 Common Reasons for Public Records Request
- What is Antitrust Law?
- Virginia Gun Confiscation Law
- Ways to Know Who Owns a House
- Neighborhood Watch Program
- How to Perform a Mugshot Search?
- Crime Mapping
- Safest Colleges in Florida
- Veterans Guide to Cars and Driving
- U.S. Correctional System: Structure, Incarceration and Facts
- License Plate Laws in the US
- How to Find Out If Someone Is in Jail?
- Email Hacking: Laws, Penalties and Protection
- Romeo and Juliet Laws
- Holiday Safety for Home and Family
- Differences between Criminal and Arrest Records
- Public Records and Property History: What is Public Information and What Isn’t
- How to Look up Immigration Inmates?
- Famous Prisons in the USA
- How to Find Out Who Owns a Vehicle Using Reverse Lookup Tools
- How to Search for Your Family Tree?
- The Federal Judicial Center
- Mass Incarceration in the USA
- What is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)?
- Data Safety After The Capital One Breach
- Scholarships Guide for Students
- Complete Guide to Student Safety
- What Is a Vehicle Identification Number?
- Determining Divorce: 5 Types of Divorce You Must Know
- Sex Offenders: Complete Guide to be Protected
- New Privacy Laws and Public Records
- Motor Vehicle Registration in the US
- Digital Token Age: Security Laws and Regulations
- Facial Recognition Technology and Legal Restrictions
- What Shows up in a Background Report
- What is Repossession of a Car?
- How to Protect Yourself from Phone Scams
- Human Rights in the Prison
- What are Business Competition Laws?
- What is a Hate Crime?
- Starting a Business and Business Licenses
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidance
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Tax Reform Impact and Changes To Know
- Self-Driving Cars: Laws and Regulations
- White-Collar Crime: Statistics and Facts
- Have You Been Arrested? Cases You'll Need a Lawyer
- How to Get a Driver's License in the US
- Car Theft in the US: Statistics and Facts
- Identity Theft Passport Program
- Changing your Name after Marriage: What You Need to Know
- Finding the Perfect Roommate: Dos and Donts
- What to Do in a Car Accident?
- Property Crimes: How to Burglar Proof Your Home
- Consumer Laws in the US: What Do They Mean for a Customer and a Business Owner
- Child Trafficking: The Scope, Understanding, and Prevention
- Business Assets: A Guide to the Financial Health of your Business
- Guide To The College Application: How, When and Where to Apply
- Which States Have “Stand Your Ground” Laws?
- Adolescent Depression Symptoms and Causes
- Things to Know About the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System
- Inheritance in the US: With & Without a Will
- Online Dating Safety Guide for Men and Women
- Sexual Abuse in the U.S.: Laws and Statistics
- Supporting Children After Divorce: Child Custody Options
- Halloween Horrors Come to Life: Holidays Crimes in the U.S.
- Charity Scams in the U.S.: Be Aware and Protected
- Webcam Hacking & Spying in the US
- Freedom of Religion in the U.S.
- Senior Financial Scams: How are the Elderly Targeted and How to Avoid It
- Catcalling: Is it illegal? How to Deal With It
- A Complete Guide To Insurance Fraud: Common Types and Prevention
- Sextortion: What to Do if You Became a Victim of Blackmailing
- Concealed Carry: How to Protect Yourself on Campus
- Debt Collection Laws | Fair Debt Collection Act: What You Need To Know
- How Much Is My House Worth? Ultimate Guide to Home Buying and Selling
- What are the Traits of a Sociopath?
- Do You Know Who Your Neighbors Are?
- Learn How to Find Your Birth Parents
- The Importance of Public Records in Law
- What's The Difference Between a Jail And a Prison?
- Homeowner's Insurance Coverage & Common Claims
- The Disturbing Facts of Gun Violence in America
- How to Use Public Records in Marketing
- Best & Worst Cities for Driving
- LGBT Bullying
- A Parent's Guide to Keeping Your Child Drug-Free
- What You Need to Know When Buying or Selling a Used Car
- Guide to Filing for Bankruptcy
- Making Your DMV Experience Fast And Easy
- How to Appeal the Court's Decision
- How to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
- How to Prepare For an Active Shooter Incident
- How to Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks
- How to Report a Crime?
- Keeping Your Neighborhood Safe For Your Family
- School Safety and Security Standards
- 50 Things to Know When Filing for Divorce
- Tips for Back-to-School Safety and Security
- A User's Guide to Warrants
- What to Do When You Are Stopped By the Police
Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
Cold cases are criminal investigations that have reached a dead end without resolution, and the overwhelming number of them in the U.S. is hindering crime prevention efforts. These cases enter a sort of limbo while manpower is redirected to other needs. Investigators may return to the cold cases periodically to consider new angles, such as to compare criminal records of a suspect with the crime scene information or to see if DNA or fingerprint or other evidence matches new information entered into the F.B.I. databases, such as the CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), but the longer a case is cold, the less likely it will ever be solved.
In order to break the logjam of cold cases many law enforcement agencies are releasing cold case information to searchable databases hoping that private individuals may help solve them and improve the jurisdiction’s crime prevention statistics. Combining police cold case files with the availability of criminal record information, a dedicated sleuth may be able to crack a case.
The Scope of the Problem
According to the F.B.I.’s own data, nearly 40 percent of all murders, 50 percent of assaults, and 70 percent of rapes and robberies are never solved. Furthermore, once a case is “cold,” and the investigating officers are assigned and working on new cases, it becomes unlikely that the cold case can be resuscitated. Just 10 percent of law enforcement organizations have any personnel dedicated to cold cases.
The National Institute for Justice (NIJ) reports that there is a cold case crisis in the country, due in part to the lack of a cohesive central database of information and definitions of terms. Law enforcement jurisdictions classify cold cases differently, some by time frame (for instance, one to five years old) or by status (inactive for various reasons). Missing persons and unidentified human remains are often left out of cold case statistics, further skewing the numbers. As time progresses and the rate of clearing or resolving violent crime cases stays at or below 50 percent, the total number of cold cases accumulates rapidly. A conservative estimate of the number of cold cases of violent crime in the country is 240,000.
Factors that Contribute to Cold Cases Include:
- community distrust in police;
- poor evidence gathering or training;
- tunnel vision – focusing on a suspect without thoroughly investigating others;
- lack of police resources, including personnel and technology;
- reclassification of a death from suicide or natural causes to murder and missing opportunities to treat the death like a crime scene, including gathering homicide-type forensic information;
- discovery of a crime long after it has happened, when fewer leads are available, and
- time – the longer a case goes unsolved the more likely it will go cold.
Serious crimes are more likely maintained and revisited in cold case files because there are no statutes of limitation (time limits on prosecution) on murders and similar incidents. Lesser crimes that inflict minor damage, including larcenies, robberies, and simple assaults, are generally all subject to statutes of limitations, so police are less likely to spend resources trying to solve them if the perpetrator may not be charged.
How to Awaken a Cold Case?
It’s challenging for law enforcement to devote people and time to cases that have not produced a strong suspect after many months or years, but there are some ways to get cold cases moving again, including:
- re-interview primary people and witnesses;
- forming a cold case investigative unit with experienced professionals;
- involve the media;
- consider the probability that violent rapes are committed by serial rapists, which can change the direction of an investigation (studies support this thesis);
- seek new tests on DNA, bullets, fiber samples, and other evidence;
- get public input.
Law enforcement agencies periodically revisit cold case files to determine if they missed anything, if new technologies may be applied to the evidence that was collected, or if new cases are similar in technique, location, or victims to the cold cases. Oftentimes police will ask the media to broadcast information about the case, including information about the victim, the location, and other details that may jog an individual’s memory about the events and bring forward new information.
Public Involvement in Cold Cases
Police have recently solved several high-profile cold cases with the assistance of amateur sleuths and access to genetic databases. By offering DNA results from crime scenes to be examined by the public, serial murder cases like the “Golden State Killer” have been solved by people who were able to link the DNA to family members registered on the database. With some additional research, the link was made to the suspected killer through opportunity and location, then confirmed by a current DNA sample, sometimes acquired surreptitiously in the person’s trash. Unfortunately for law enforcement, one of the major DNA databases reversed its policy on open access and is no longer allowing police access for such research.
In an attempt to gather public input on cold cases, the F.B.I. is creating an open, national database of information about human remains found but unidentified. Called VICTIMS, the database will include details on where the remains were found, estimated age of the individual, and potentially offer a three-dimensional recreation of what the person looked like, including hair style and length.
A former detective and investigator was among those who started a new searchable database called the Murder Accountability Project, a nonprofit organization, to help close cold cases. Using information reported to the F.B.I. by law enforcement agencies across the country, this database is searchable by the general public and allows many parameters to be cross-referenced, including age of the victim, details of the death, location, and other similar cases. The organization helped Chicago solve a string of strangulation murders recently, but also sued the F.B.I., Department of Justice, and other law enforcement agencies for not disclosing thousands of unsolved cold cases. The undisclosed murders included 2,400 killings of Native Americans that were not entered into F.B.I. databases over several decades. The nonprofit investigative agency also discovered that as murder cases were cleared or resolved by police, clearance of murder cases involving African-American victims declined in every jurisdiction.
Another database that seeks wide input on cold cases is called ProjectColdCase. It currently lists over 24,000 cases submitted by law enforcement from 46 states and the families of victims. The searchable database allows reverse searches by vital statistics such as age, gender, and geographic location or by name. Many of the cases listed on the database were compiled by reporters from The Washington Post newspaper. Sometimes by searching by gender and state one may discover a pattern of unsolved cold cases that point to a serial killer, such as a group of women found dumped off highways around New Bedford, Massachusetts in the late 1980s.
Famous Cold Cases
In the Pacific Northwest, the name D.B. Cooper will forever be linked to a cold case of a plane hijacking and ransom. In 1971 a man on a commercial flight told the cabin crew he had a bomb and would blow up the plane if his demands weren’t met. Authorities rushed to give him $200,000 in cash and refuel the plane upon landing, but the man escaped in mid-flight when the plane was headed toward Mexico. Known as D.B. Cooper, the man and the money disappeared, presumably by parachuting over unpopulated land. The F.B.I. has pursued the case for 45 years without resolution.
Our current “Amber Alert” system for finding missing and endangered children is named for Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old last seen playing with her brother near their home in Arlington, Texas. In 1996 a nearby neighbor witnessed the girl’s kidnapping by a man and called police, but the girl wasn’t found for two days. Unfortunately, her body was uncovered in a creek. The murder remains unsolved but many changes have been made to law enforcement’s response to missing children cases as a result, including rapid deployment of a specially-trained team to such cases because abducted children are often kept alive for a period of time and the first 24 hours is key to finding them.