If you're murdered in America, there's a 1 in 3 chance that the police won't identify your killer.
To use the FBI's terminology, the national "clearance rate" for homicide today is 64.1 percent. Fifty years ago, it was more than 90 percent.
And that's worse than it sounds, because "clearance" doesn't equal conviction: It's just the term that police use to describe cases that end with an arrest, or in which a culprit is otherwise identified without the possibility of arrest — if the suspect has died, for example.
Criminologists estimate that at least 200,000 murders have gone unsolved since the 1960s, leaving family and friends to wait and wonder.
"It's like the boogeyman," says Delicia Turner. Her husband Anthony Glover was found murdered — along with a friend — in Boston in 2009. Police never made an arrest. She says the open case preys on her mind. "You don't know if you're walking next to the person, if you've seen the person ... if the person knows you."
Turner watches a lot of true-crime TV, hoping to see something that could be applied to her husband's case. She calls her ideas in to the detectives in Boston, who tell her not to be "a TV cop," she says.
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14 comments:
The reason for the downturn on "Clearance" of murders, is because of TV. Criminals now know what not to do in order to avoid being caught. You are taught on TV to wear rubber gloves, disposable coveralls, and booties to keep DNA and blood spatter off of yourself, plus, many other things to screw up an investigation.
That's doesn't make sense 4:37 because when the clearance rate was higher forensics didn't exist. Up until the 70's blood was only identifiable by human vs animal and then type.
If anything science has evolved to detect blood not seen by the naked eye visible.
It has all to do with the "no snitch" culture unless of course there is something in it for them, then they can't wait to talk.
You can have all the DNA in the world but unless you have a suspect to link it to, it's useless unless they been court ordered to provide a sample after being convicted of a previous felony.
Maryland takes DNA just for an arrest, look it up.
So are you saying the government should have DNA samples from everyone? So they can solve more murders? Or plant evidence?
Now that an actual FACE can be created from DNA that could change.Knowing the app age,race,and facial features will narrow it down a LOT.Now watch the attorneys fight tooth and nail to keep it out of court.
Cops arrest everyone they can now, they collect DNA and fingerprints, file it all in a database and they can solve crimes easier. If your not convicted of a crime, they may say that they toss out the DNA, but do you really think they do? They keep your fingerprints though.
"Anonymous Anonymous said...
Maryland takes DNA just for an arrest, look it up.
March 30, 2015 at 5:35 PM"
I don't need "look it up" as I well aware of the law. DNA samples are not merely taken just "for an arrest." First of all DNA can only be obtained if the person arrested is suspected of a serious crime. In other words shoplifting would not qualify if arrested. Example would be Thomas Leggs who was arrested in the abduction and murder of Sarah Foxwell. Other evidence (eye witness) gave strong indication that he was the perpetrator as well as some possible biological evidence which you need his sample to compare. He under MD law was required to give a DNA sample. I have no direct knowledge this occurred but it more than likely was the scenario.
Now if the arrestee is not convicted the DNA sample is destroyed.
The DNA database consists of those who were convicted of all felonies and a handful of misdemeanors.
It's not physically possible to analyze the DNA of every single person arrested in the state. The DNA law only pertains to those suspected in a major crime. No different than getting a warrant for someone's shoes if shoe prints were present at a crime scene or dental records if victim had bite marks on them.
The tv says police always solve all crimes.
Profiling used to be a good thing.
There might be more citizen murders apprehended if the response to the murder of a regular citizen got 10% of the attention that those who merely shoot at a cop (not even killing them) gets.
HUNDREDS of cops will seal off neighborhoods, close roads (got to get to work? Screw you. Exit the vehicle HANDS UP!!, search houses (warrant? I said HANDS UP!). Search mountain ranges!!
You or I get whacked and maybe two cops show up. Take a couple of pictures, file a report. That's it.
Its good to know where you are on the food chain but it ain't looking good for non-badge wearing serfs.
get out of the seat belt patrol and do some REAL work.
It won't produce revenue, but it will make us proud.
Or keep cheering. At the next-to-nothing value your life has been assigned by the ones who swear to "protect you", but understand they must protect themselves FIRST.
Most murders go unsolved because most murders are black on black and contrary to what they want people to believe black lives DO NOT matter. Now if they can attach a racial agenda to it like a white cop shooting a black terrorist-and yes Brown was no better than ISIS as he was going around terrorising the neighborhood making it unfit for lawbiding residents-they are on it like flies on crap.
Otherwise a black on black murder is just another day in the hood and their inherent trait to be dishonest kicks in-no one saw anything no one heard anything no one knows anything.
Nothing will change until they decide to become honest and until them let them kill each other all they want. No great loss to society. It's not like any of them would amount to anything more than a criminal themselves. And no I'm not being a racist I'm being a realist.
That stat is high if it is the Da Bury. They cant solve a murder. Hell they are so dumb they cant solve a suicide. Dont laugh cause it aint funny.
The sad fact is they are too busy busting balls in house to get out on the streets where they belong. When is the last time you actually saw a SPD Detective. I am not talking about lunch time u will find them at the Deli.
They think the telephone is the way to investigate crime. Try leaving your desk once in a while.
Sad there was a day they were as good as any in the state. Now just a bunch of yes men spending more time investigating fellow cops. Sad indeed
What was funny was 11:11 saying he's not racist.
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