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Pros and Cons
The main benefit of a cold case squad is that it reduces the
backlog of unsolved homicide cases. The arrest of suspects in one
cold case may either solve other cases (through new leads and information
from those suspects) or prevent new ones (by keeping killers from
committing other crimes). A cold case squad’s success in even
one case can lead to positive feedback from a family that had been
frustrated by law enforcement’s previous inability to solve
the death of a loved one. The sense of justice and closure gained
by the victim’s family when a case is closed cannot be overestimated.
Even clearing previous suspects from suspicion can be helpful both
to the families and the investigators. Arrests made in old cases
also provide a good opportunity to present the community with a
positive image of police who never stop caring about unsolved cases.
A cold case squad, however, also requires significant staffing
and financial resources to pursue leads and track suspects. In
addition, it requires input from potentially uncooperative or reluctant
parties, especially the community, the victim’s family, and
witnesses. A cold case squad’s success in closing cases and
encouraging other investigations may actually hamper its effectiveness
if resources for pursuing a flood of additional leads are not available.
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