FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2000
CONTACT:Jean F. Reuter
(301) 405-4622
[email protected]
Solid Police Work Makes Significant Difference in Homicide Arrests
-University of Maryland study shows 90 percent of homicides could be solved-
COLLEGE PARK, Md -- In 1999, there were more than 500 homicides in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The harsh truth is that many of these crimes will go unsolved. However, a study recently released by University of Maryland concludes that approximately 20 percent more police homicide investigations can culminate in arrests by improving and enforcing basic policy and practices of law enforcement agencies.
The study, conducted by University of Maryland criminologist Charles Wellford and colleague James Cronin, shows detective procedures and behaviors play a major role in successful homicide arrests. This suggests that police agencies across the country can improve the number of arrests made following homicides simply by making adjustments to the way they handle such cases. Wellford and Cronin, who worked in conjunction with the Justice Research and Statistics Association, based their conclusions on the results of a four-city, multi-state research project that compared characteristics of solved and unsolved homicide cases.
Currently only 69 percent of homicides are solved nationwide. According to the researchers, 90 percent of homicides would be solved or "cleared" if police followed practices that appear to increase the likelihood of arrest. For example, the researchers determined that the more detectives assigned to the case, the more likely it will be solved; three to four officers seems to be the appropriate number. Wellford and Cronin also assert that a case is more likely to be solved when detectives arrive at the crime scene in 30 minutes or less. Other detective behavior that improves the chances that an offender will be arrested includes follow-up on witness information; attendance at post-mortem procedures; measurement of crime scenes; use of cutting-edge information technology including computer checks; and immediate notification of the homicide unit and medical examiner by the first officer on the scene.
"These findings may seem rather basic, but that is exactly the point," said Wellford. "What we found is that too often these basic but very significant steps aren't being followed. The good news is that with some relatively simple procedure modification, law enforcement agencies should be able to appreciably increase the number of arrests following homicides."
The study also identified several characteristics of homicide cases that affect how successful detectives will be in arresting a suspect(s). The presence of drugs plays a key role. Cases are more likely to be closed if the victim was not a drug user, buyer or seller. Bystander behavior also factors greatly in investigations. A case is more likely to be solved when witnesses were at the scene and provided valuable information such as identification of the offender, location of the offender, and motivation for the homicide. Finally, choice of weapon affects clearance. If the murder weapon was found and if the weapon was a rifle, knife or personal weapon (hands or feet) rather than a handgun, clearance rate improves. The researchers attribute this to the nature of crimes. Generally knives and hands or feet are used in sudden, unpremeditated crimes in which the perpetrator knows the subject. There tend to more witnesses and more physical evidence such as fingerprints. If a handgun is used, there is a higher probability the victim was a stranger to the assailant. These crimes also tend to be better planned so that perpetrators can avoid detection.
Police resources are stretched thinner and thinner as law enforcement agencies struggle to meet the demands of increasing crime rates. However, the researchers concluded that enforcing routine policy and procedures, in addition to factoring in case characteristics (e.g. the presence of drugs), are important in increasing homicide arrests. Wellford and Cronin plan to present their findings to law enforcement agencies and discuss with them changes that departments can use to improve their rates of solving murder cases.
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00020r, 2/18/00, Reuter
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