HB 1024

Abstract

Department of State Police; establishment of cold case searchable database. Requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish and maintain a searchable electronic database of cold cases, available to the public through the Department of State Police official website. The bill defines "cold case" as an investigation into a homicide, missing person, or unidentified person case that has remained unsolved for at least five years after the crime occurred, the person went missing, or the unidentified body was found, whichever occurred last. The bill requires the database to include (i) the category of cold case and, in the case of a homicide or missing person, the name of the victim or missing person, unless prohibited or restricted by law; (ii) the location where the crime was committed, where the person was last seen, or where the body was found, if known; (iii) the date and time the crime occurred, the person was last seen, or the body was found, if known; (iv) the name and contact information of the investigating law-enforcement agency; (v) a brief summary of the crime or case; and (vi) any other information that the investigating law-enforcement agency determines is appropriate. The bill also allows the Department and submitting law-enforcement agencies to withhold such information, in whole or in part, from the database (a) as they deem necessary for investigative purposes, protection of privacy, or any other lawful reason or (b) upon request of the victim's or missing person's next of kin.

Department of State Police; establishment of cold case searchable database. Requires the Superintendent of State Police to establish and maintain a searchable electronic database of cold cases, available to the public through the Department of State Police official website. The bill defines "cold case" as an investigation into a homicide, missing person, or unidentified person case that has remained unsolved for at least five years after the crime occurred, the person went missing, or the unidentified body was found, whichever occurred last. The bill requires the database to include (i) the category of cold case and, in the case of a homicide or missing person, the name of the victim or missing person, unless prohibited or restricted by law; (ii) the location where the crime was committed, where the person was last seen, or where the body was found, if known; (iii) the date and time the crime occurred, the person was last seen, or the body was found, if known; (iv) the name and contact information of the investigating law-enforcement agency; (v) a brief summary of the crime or case; and (vi) any other information that the investigating law-enforcement agency determines is appropriate. The bill also allows the Department and submitting law-enforcement agencies to withhold such information, in whole or in part, from the database (a) as they deem necessary for investigative purposes, protection of privacy, or any other lawful reason or (b) upon request of the victim's or missing person's next of kin.

Department of State Police; establishment ofcold case searchable database. Requires the Superintendent ofState Police to establish and maintain a searchable electronic databaseof cold cases, available to the public through the Department of StatePolice official website. The bill defines "cold case" as an investigationinto a homicide, missing person, or unidentified person case thathas remained unsolved for at least five years after the crime occurred,the person went missing, or the unidentified body was found. Thebill requires the database to include (i) the category of cold caseand, in the case of a homicide or missing person, the name of thevictim or missing person, unless prohibited or restricted by law;(ii) the location where the crime was committed, where the personwas last seen, or where the body was found, if known; (iii) the dateand time the crime occurred, the person was last seen, or the bodywas found, if known; (iv) the name and contact information of theinvestigating law-enforcement agency; (v) a brief summary of the crimeor case; and (vi) any other information that the investigating law-enforcementagency determines is relevant. The bill also allows the Department and submitting law-enforcement agencies to withhold such information,in whole or in part, from the database as they deem necessary forinvestigative purposes, protection of privacy, or any other lawfulreason.