The findings indicate that two victim characteristics are associated with the occurrence and timing of clearance: gender and age. Cases involving women and young children are cleared sooner. In addition, study findings suggest that the efficiency and effectiveness of police response to homicide may be influenced by certain case characteristics. The overall results confirm that much is to be learned from shifting the conceptualization of clearance from the traditional dichotomy of cleared/uncleared to an examination of the length of time to clearance. This change makes a difference in terms of conclusions regarding the impact of victim race, circumstances, and weapons on clearing a case. Examining the timing of clearance is important in understanding homicide investigations as cases become more difficult to clear the more time that passes without an arrest. This study presents arguments for an alternative conceptualization of case clearance in understanding the impact factors on whether homicides are cleared. Figures, table, appendix, notes, and references