Why Time Matters in Cold Cases
As time passes, witness memory fades, evidence degrades, and leads go cold. However, advances in DNA analysis, digital records, and forensic databases can shorten effective cold case time to crime and reopen investigations that once appeared closed.
Costs and Outcomes of Long Cold Case Timelines
Extended cold case time to crime increases staffing, storage, and forensic testing costs for law enforcement. Successful resolutions can reduce long term expenditures and improve clearance statistics. For data on case clearance trends, see the Bureau of Justice Statistics report at https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cjts.pdf
