Question

what are the challenges a police agency may encounter in their homicide clearance rates?

Answer 1

Solutions :

In recent years, the ability of law enforcement to make arrests in crimes would appear to have significantly diminished. This is especially true for homicide: from 1980 to 1996, the clearance rate for homicides decreased more than 7 %.

The Investigative Instrument provided information related to the process used by homicide detectives to investigate the case. The Investigative Instrument provided information such as the status of the case, the number of detectives assigned to the case, what evidence was found at the crime scene and what types of checks and tests were performed on any evidence found, whether search warrants were issued, who was interviewed, and what information was obtained by following up on the initial stages of the investigation.

Researchers from the University of Maryland, working with the Justice Research and Statistics Association, designed a multi-State study in four large cities to identify the factors that affected the clearance of homicides during 1994 and 1995.

Challenges to Improving Homicide Investigations

There are several reasons why police agencies have found it difficult to strengthen homicide investigations and improve clearance rates. The two of the key challenges that police agencies face:

• A lack of research into what makes an effective investigation
• The need to update investigative practices to keep up with cultural and technological changes
• the role that prosecutors should play in the investigative process
• differences in opinion regarding the strength of evidence needed to make an arrest; and
• a lack of formal and informal information-sharing protocols between prosecutors and homicide investigators.

Challenges with Digital Evidence

Many of these challenges revolve around the fact that, as compared to regular physical evidence (e.g., DNA or fingerprint evidence), digital evidence has a wider scope, can be more personally sensitive, is mobile, and requires different training and tools. One of the biggest challenges for police agencies is paying for the licensing and equipment that you need to work with digital evidence.

Processing and analyzing digital evidence requires specialized skills, training, and equipment that are beyond the capabilities of many police agencies.CCTV cameras are typically operated by a wide range of private businesses or government agencies, it is sometimes difficult for police agencies to obtain video footage quickly after a crime occurs, especially if it is not immediately clear who owns particular cameras or who can facilitate the downloading of video files.

It is critical that police agencies take steps to address these challenges and prioritize the use of digital evidence in criminal investigations, including homicide cases.