Random police/detective question

[wh1t3bread]

Yeah, they are called cold cases. Minor crimes (like misdemeanors) have statute of limitations but the more violent major crimes (murder, rape, etc) do not.

I'm not sure if there is an exact set time period before a case is considered cold. Each case is unique so it may vary depending on the case and the amount of evidence orpossible suspects at the detectives disposal.

I would think if there is a set time period it would even vary by police department.

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Ok, well how long until inactive?

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This is again depedent on the number of leads the police have. Even in your "no clues" scenario (which is very unlikely), there are still quite a few compulsory investigative procedures that are followed in a homicide. These can take up to 6-months or a year to resolve depending on the number of investigators and the resources of the department/agency.

As far as when the perpetrator can give a "sigh of relief" goes - I would say never. Sometimes letting a case go inactive can allow new leads to pop up solely because it hasn't been receiving a lot of attention.

[MonkeeMan]

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Sometimes letting a case go inactive can allow new leads to pop up solely because it hasn't been receiving a lot of attention.

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Also, new investigative techniques emerge, such as DNA testing.

[rusellmj]

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Ok, well how long until inactive?

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I'm gonna speculate that when it comes to a homicide the case will be active until ALL leads are exhuasted. Even if it's just one detective tying up loose ends. Once the loose ends are tied up I'm sure there will be an official report stating so and the case will probably go into an inactive status. It will wait there until someone with an interest in the case periodically reviews the file, or new evidence is found. Such as another murder with similar circumstances.

I'm sure certain cases cry out more than others. I've heard about detevtives who've kept the photo of a child or the investigation file on their desk to remind them not to give up.

Police departments probably don't tell people they're going to stop looking. They probably tell them something along the lines of the leads being exhausted and they await new evidence/leads.

Now, with all the above being said, I'm sure the tenacity of the local PD has alot to do with it. I once had key information about a homicide but no one came to talk to me.
When I phoned the police dept. the following conversation took place.

Operator: XXXXXXX PD
Me: Yeah I have information about the homicide that took place at XXXXX yesterday. Can I speak with a detective?
OP: Wha? Who are you?
Me: My name is russellmj.
Op: And what is it that you want?
Me: I have information about a homicide. Should I speak with a detective?
Op: (Smartalicky) What information do you have?
Me: I'm pretty sure I can identify the getaway car in the newspaper story.
OP: (Pissed) Look, we're very busy, we don't have time for this.
Me: What should I do with my information?
OP: Give me your name and number.

So I gave her my name and number. No one contacts me.

When I saw one of the suspects a week later I called the police and told them he was involved in the killing. About 40 minutes later two uniforms show up, ask the guy for ID and leave. Dude splits immediately following cops. Couple weeks later a detective shows up and wants to know where he can find said suspect. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] He hasn't been seen since.

If there are absolutely no clues then I don't know what the police can possibly do. Pretend they're solving the case for a while and then quietly put it away? I'm no expert on the matter, but it seems like the case could only stay open for so long without any evidence at all.

[4_2_it]

Depends how many times John Walsh profiles the crime. The killer should immediately flee to either South America or a south Seas Seas island (preferably one with topless natives) depending on what you, I mean he, can afford.

[swede123]

Once the regular cops can't get any further they call in a real expert, typically an extremely pale lady who looks like she's in constant agony.

Swede

[asofel]

Ask the judge for the castration option.

[highlife]

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Does anyone know how long the police will investigate a murder that lacks evidence before deeming the case unsolved?

Hypothetical: A drug deal gone wrong, it leaves two or three of the memebers of the exchange dead. Let's assume small/medium time dealers so there is no previous investigation, etc. The police have no "clues". How long until they tell the family members, "sorry, but we are no longer going to be investigating this murder..."

Thanks.
(The reasoning behind this question is completely uninteresting so please don't get excited)

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they would never actually tell the family that. they just give up after all the leads and clues dry up and it goes into cold case status.

First, buy some gloves that are a size or two too small. After you murder someone and possible a waiter that happened upon the scene, smear the gloves with their blood and leave them at the scene. Later when you are tried for the murder try on the gloves and when they don't fit, they will acquit. Then breathe your sigh of relief.