Working Smarter on Cold Cases: Identifying Factors Associated with Successful Cold Case Investigations†
Corresponding Author
Robert C. Davis M.S.
Police Executive Research Forum, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC, 20036
Additional information and reprint requests:
Robert C. Davis, M.S.
Director of Research
Police Executive Research Forum
1120 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorCarl J. Jensen III Ph.D.
Department of Legal Studies, Center for Intelligence and Security Studies, University of Mississippi, 620 All American Drive, University, MS, 38677
Search for more papers by this authorLane Burgette Ph.D.
Police Executive Research Forum, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC, 20036
Search for more papers by this authorKathryn Burnett M.A.
Dept of Forensic Psychology, Marymount University, 2807 N Glebe St, Arlington, VA, 22207
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Robert C. Davis M.S.
Police Executive Research Forum, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC, 20036
Additional information and reprint requests:
Robert C. Davis, M.S.
Director of Research
Police Executive Research Forum
1120 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036
E-mail: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorCarl J. Jensen III Ph.D.
Department of Legal Studies, Center for Intelligence and Security Studies, University of Mississippi, 620 All American Drive, University, MS, 38677
Search for more papers by this authorLane Burgette Ph.D.
Police Executive Research Forum, 1120 Connecticut Avenue, Washington, DC, 20036
Search for more papers by this authorKathryn Burnett M.A.
Dept of Forensic Psychology, Marymount University, 2807 N Glebe St, Arlington, VA, 22207
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Cold case squads have garnered much attention; however, they have yet to undergo significant empirical scrutiny. In the present study, the authors interviewed investigators and reviewed 189 solved and unsolved cold cases in Washington, D.C., to determine whether there are factors that can predict cold case solvability. In the interviews, new information from witnesses or information from new witnesses was cited as the most prevalent reason for case clearance. The case reviews determined that there were factors in each of the following domains that predicted whether cases would be solved during cold case investigations: Crime Context, Initial Investigation Results, Basis for Opening Cold Case, and Cold Case Investigator Actions. The results suggest that it is possible to prioritize cold case work based on the likelihood of investigations leading to clearances.
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