SB 1274 ACJC; cold case investigation protocol

Governor Napolitano signed SB 1274 into law on April 22, 2008.

SB 1274 was chaptered into 41-2405. Arizona criminal justice commission; powers and duties; staff

and states as chaptered:

"A. The Arizona criminal justice commission shall:

12. COMPILE AND DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON BEST PRACTICES FOR COLD CASE INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING EFFECTIVE VICTIM COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "COLD CASE" MEANS A HOMICIDE OR A FELONY SEXUAL OFFENSE THAT REMAINS UNSOLVED FOR ONE YEAR OR MORE AFTER BEING REPORTED TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND THAT HAS NO VIABLE AND UNEXPLORED INVESTIGATORY LEADS."

I urge all victims, victim families, and victim representatives in homicide and felony sexual assault cases to contact their local police departments to:

1. get an official statement that their case as has had no viable and unexplored investigatory leads for one year or more

2. reconcile that statement with your notes on your case

3. report to the police department if you feel any viable or investigatory leads have not been explored.

If you have problems, e.g., delayed contact or no clear response to your inquiry please contact me or contact:

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission online at:

http://azcjc.gov/contact/feedback.asp

or

J.R. Blackburn at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

or

use the staff directory at: http://azcjc.gov/pubs/services/Staff_Directory.pdf

Of course feel free to email me at:

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it