NCJ Number
206160
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 31 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2004 Pages: 18-20,22,23
Date Published
June 2004
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes how new databases and technology are helping police investigators solve old murder cases.
Abstract
The article opens with a description of two murder cases, one from 1957 and one from 1968, that were only recently solved thanks to advancements in information collection and dissemination (databases) and DNA fingerprinting technology. Over the past few years, for a multitude of reasons, cold case squads have been forming in police forces around the country; cold case units are in operation in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, among others. It is estimated that 30 to 35 percent of murders go unsolved and that each year, another 6,000 unsolved murders occur. Cold case investigators now have access to tools police officers did not have in decades past. DNA fingerprinting technology has advanced to the point where DNA information can be obtained from microscopic pieces of evidence. Plus, the development of national databases, such as the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), allows investigators to search through more than 46 million prints to find possible matches. The article describes how cold cases are identified for renewed investigation efforts; cases that were not properly investigated the first time are moved to the top of the list. Cold cases in which new information is provided are also given top priority by cold case investigators. While new DNA technology, including STR testing, and national databases provide treasure troves of information, old-fashioned detective work is still heavily relied upon when investigating cold cases. Interviewing past witnesses may lead to new information or reviewing old case files may provide fresh leads. Finally, simply reminding the public about past crimes may serve to jog the memories of those with information. Photographs