Probably one of the most difficult issues surrounding creating a cold case central registry is the cost.  What does it cost?

Before the issue of cost becomes elevated beyond all consideration, the development of a central registry begins on the basis of what exists already and what is needed.  These two areas fold into a list of "requirements" or basic functions or basic data that makes the central registry of any value.

When thought is given to what is already on hand, then a central registry may begin at any given time.  For instance, do we have names of victims?  The place of the murder? The date of the murder?

Police agencies are flooded with that information.

A contact person?  Yes that's generally available too.

The list begins in a table like form that may be expanded periodically.  Is the weapon to be listed?  Yes?  No?

The suspect's name?  Only if indicted and not tried or found?  Some of these questions may be answered globally or individually by investigators or prosecutors.

Is there any value to adding a seemingly vague case when others may bear more consideration?  That's a problem with cold cases.  A case that seemed unsolvable yesterday suddenly jumps to the forefront today.

How does this process of registry "design" and data management begin?  With a pencil and a piece of paper.  More sophisticated methods would help but may actually slow down the process of design and assembly of data because people need to go though learning curves on the more sophisticated methods as well as learn the design and data management processes first.

One of the best central registries I ever saw began in three inch binder.  It was surrounded by a disciplined approach to maintenance.  The total cost was lined paper, occasional use of a three hole punch, a binder, section dividers, a piece of string taped to the binder and a working ball point pen taped to the string.  Inside of the binder was the working information that was updated, changed, and made available.