Sarah L. Stein – författare

Because the investigation of cold cases is usually an arduous and time-consuming task, most law enforcement agencies in the United States are not able to dedicate the resources necessary to support the cold case investigation process. However, when those cases are fully pursued and prosecuted, they often result in convictions and lengthy prison terms. Cold Cases: Evaluation Models with Follow-up Strategies for Investigators, Second Edition saves law enforcement time by providing detailed guidelines for determining if a cold case is solvable, and if so, how to organize, manage, and evaluate the investigation. It also provides techniques for developing investigative strategies to complement the evaluation process and resolve the crime.This second edition features a new revised model and methodology for investigating cold cases suitable for all police and public safety agencies—large or small, domestic or international. This new model is more expeditious and convenient for departments that have less manpower and experience in dealing with cold cases. It emphasizes the prioritization of cold cases based on the availability of physical evidence and the chances of deriving matches from said evidence and an identified person of interest.Additional topics covered in the second edition include: How cases go coldStrategies for creating a cold case unitCold case investigations in a Dutch educational environment—a chapter written by members of the Dutch Police AcademyNew forensic science technologies, including DNA, CODIS, and AFISCase studies demonstrating advances in suspectologyStrategies for effective investigative interviewing Challenges posed by staged crime scenes in cold casesHow to craft a cold case evaluation report The expert authors of this book maintain The Center for the Resolution of Unresolved Crimes

Nearly 185,000 homicides since 1980 remain unsolved, yet with limited staff and resources, it is no surprise that law enforcement units place the bulk of their efforts on current cases where victims’ family members and the media demand answers. Cold Cases: An Evaluation Model with Follow-up Strategies for Investigators provides a comprehensive roadmap for digging those cold cases out of the file room and getting them resolved. Practical and concise, the book is an invaluable tool for police officers and detectives attempting to solve crimes that would otherwise be forgotten.Evaluating the CaseDivided into three sections, the book begins with a historical perspective on how cases get to the point where it appears all investigative leads have been exhausted. It includes a chapter on understanding the process of homicide and those who kill — critical information for the homicide investigator. Next, the authors explain the evaluation model. They demonstrate the key elements of organization, thoroughness, and the value of the scientific method. This section validates theories of the crime, raises evidentiary issues and concerns, addresses the informational and behavioral aspects relative to the crime and the participants in the crime, and documents investigative strategies for future efforts on the case.Investigating and Solving the CrimeThe third section discusses the investigation that follows the evaluation. The book considers questions investigators must ask, including what should be looked at beyond the case file itself, and how the growth in technology since the date of the incident might provide new opportunities to uncover clues. This section also explores the choice of interview/interrogation techniques based on the behavioral aspects involved. Finally, the authors suggest how investigators can maximize their efforts and obtain not just an arrest, but a conviction.Useful appendices include sample standard operating procedures from three different agencies to use as a guide for setting up a cold case unit and a list of additional resources a department may look to for assistance. By following the cold cases evaluation model in this volume, those charged with resolving long-forgotten crimes can increase their chance of an accurate resolution, or at least be able to say that everything that can be done has been done.