Cold Case Units in Homicide Investigations

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Questions and Answers

What is a key step in the cold case process?

Screening eligible cases based on solvability criteria (correct)

Investigating all cases simultaneously

Only considering cases that are a year or older

Transferring all cases to the cold case unit immediately

What is a benefit of having a cold case unit?

It only focuses on mass shootings

It increases the workload of detectives

It relieves the burden on detectives working on active cases (correct)

It reduces community trust and satisfaction

What is a characteristic of an effective cold case unit?

It does not involve quality assurance functions

It has a single detective responsible for all cases

It only investigates active cases

It involves a team of detectives, original case detectives, and prosecutors (correct)

When are cases typically designated as inactive and eligible for transfer to the cold case unit?

After a set period of time Signup and view all the answers

What is a key role of a cold case unit in relation to the homicide unit?

To relieve the burden on the homicide unit by taking responsibility for investigating critical incidents Signup and view all the answers

What is included in the definition of abuse?

Harassment, intimidation of a dependent, interference with personal liberty or willful deprivation Signup and view all the answers

What is the key element of assault?

Reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes aggravated assault from assault?

The use of a deadly weapon or device Signup and view all the answers

What is not considered domestic battery?

Reasonable discipline of a minor child Signup and view all the answers

Who is included in the definition of a family or household member?

Spouses, children, and other relatives living in the same household Signup and view all the answers

What is included in the definition of domestic violence?

Attempting to cause or causing abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a family or household member Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986?

Protection of family or household members from abuse Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the laws and definitions outlined in the provided text?

Protection of individuals from abuse and harm Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered a family or household member under Illinois law?

A person who shares a common dwelling Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of harassment according to Illinois law?

Conduct that causes emotional distress Signup and view all the answers

What type of conduct is presumed to cause emotional distress under Illinois law?

Creating a disturbance at the petitioner's place of employment or school Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a high-risk adult with disabilities under Illinois law?

A person aged 18 or over with a physical or mental disability Signup and view all the answers

What type of relationship is considered a dating relationship under Illinois law?

A relationship with a person who has or allegedly has a child in common Signup and view all the answers

What type of conduct is considered harassment under Illinois law?

Repeatingly calling the petitioner's place of employment Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the presumption of emotional distress under Illinois law?

To presume that the petitioner suffered emotional distress Signup and view all the answers

Who is considered a person with disabilities under Illinois law?

A person aged 18 or over whose physical or mental disability impairs their ability to seek or obtain protection Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Benefits of a Cold Case Unit

A well-designed and implemented cold case unit can provide meaningful case review and quality assurance functions, critical to the success of the Homicide Unit.
Having a cold case unit can offer several benefits, including solving homicide cases and bringing perpetrators to justice, raising morale within the department, and strengthening the community's trust and satisfaction in the police.
A cold case unit can relieve the burden on detectives working active cases by taking responsibility for investigating critical incidents, such as mass shootings.

Key Steps in an Effective Cold Case Process

Designating cases as inactive and eligible for transfer to the cold case unit after a set period of time.
Screening eligible cases to rank their "solvability" based on an established set of criteria.
Presenting the highest-ranked cases to a team including cold case detectives, the original case detective, and prosecutors, who decide which cases should be investigated.

Abuse includes physical abuse, harassment, intimidation of a dependent, interference with personal liberty, or willful deprivation.
Abuse does not include reasonable direction of a minor child by a parent or person in loco parentis.

Assault

Assault occurs when a person engages in conduct that places another in reasonable apprehension of receiving a battery.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault occurs when a person, while committing an assault, uses a deadly weapon or a device manufactured and designed to be substantially similar in appearance to a firearm.

Domestic Battery

Domestic battery is committed when a person intentionally or knowingly causes bodily harm to a family or household member or makes physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature with a family or household member.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is the attempting to cause or causing abuse of a family or household member or high-risk adult with disabilities, or attempting to cause or causing neglect or exploitation of a high-risk adult with disabilities.

Family or Household Members

Family or household members include spouses, former spouses, parents, children, stepchildren, and other persons related by blood or by present or prior marriage, persons who share or formerly shared a common dwelling, persons who have or allegedly have a child in common, persons who share or allegedly share a blood relationship through a child, persons who have or had a dating or engagement relationship, and persons with disabilities and their personal assistants.

Harassment

Harassment is knowing conduct that causes emotional distress and is not necessary to accomplish a purpose that is reasonable under the circumstances.
Types of conduct presumed to cause emotional distress include:
- Creating a disturbance at petitioner's place of employment or school
- Repeatedly calling petitioner's place of employment, home, or residence
- Repeatedly following petitioner about in a public place or places
- Repeatedly keeping petitioner under surveillance
- Improperly concealing a minor child from the petitioner
- Threatening physical force, confinement, or restraint on one or more occasions

High-Risk Adult with Disabilities

A high-risk adult with disabilities is a person aged 18 or over whose physical or mental disability impairs their ability to seek or obtain protection from abuse, neglect, or exploitation.