Best Practices for Handling “Cold Hits”

Law Enforcement Management of Cold Hits

Effective management of cold hits requires a team effort to ensure the case is worked toward a resolution. The composition of this team may vary based on the type of crime, but communication among the members is the key factor.¹⁵ Team meetings should be held to help establish guidelines and protocols for these cases. Using a multi-disciplinary approach to these hits will help ensure a successful outcome. It is critical to identify and include key stakeholders on this team:

• Investigator(s)
• Crime laboratory personnel
• Prosecutor(s)
• Medical examiner(s)
• Victim advocate(s)
• Crime analyst(s)

This multi-disciplinary team should meet to discuss a variety of issues related to the case(s) as appropriate, including legal requirements, confirmation samples, search warrants, prosecution requirements, chain of custody, witnesses, additional evidence testing, victim and family-related issues and identification of required resources.¹⁶

¹⁵ Frederick R. Bieber, Turning Base Hits Into Earned Runs: Improving the Effectiveness of Forensic DNA Databank Programs, Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, 34 J.L. Med. & Ethics 222 (2006)
¹⁶ CO HB 07-1272 PDF download: 40kB • Visit the Colorado Cold Case Task Force »