Forensics Departments Around The Country Overwhelmed

The Forensics Departments of the Police Departments around the country have a backlog of cases. The cases are called “cold cases”; they are the unsolved mysteries that surround an unidentified corpse. In some instances, the corpse has deteriorated to the extent that the only thing left are remains.

There are 40,000 cold cases scattered around the country, bodies or remains that have yet to be identified. Never in the history of the country have there been so many unsolved cases.

Some in Congress are aware of the need to increase forensic resources. Congressman Howard Coble, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, testified at a 2003 hearing: “Very seldom do we find a law enforcement tool that benefits everyone involved in the criminal justice system equally. DNA appears to be that tool. Prosecutors, defendants and victims all benefit from the fact that DNA provides unquestionable evidence of guilt and innocence. DNA can also provide closure to families who have lost loved ones. Forensic DNA technology is the future of investigations, and Congress must ensure that the criminal justice system has the necessary resources so that this technology can keep pace with the future demands and eliminate any backlog that may delay or slow its progress.”

According to USA Today, the Justice Department initiated the NAMUS (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System) database in 2007 to allow access to physical information about the deceased. The database can be accessed by the public at www.namus.gov. The Unidentified Decedents component of the NAMUS system holds information on 5571 open cases. 160 cases have been closed.

Still, there are a tremendous number of cases that have not been solved, and many of them have been open for decades. Congressman Coble summarized the problem: “In many instances, public crime labs are overwhelmed by backlogs of unanalyzed DNA samples. In addition, these labs may be ill equipped to handle the increasing influx of DNA samples and evidence. More research is needed to develop faster methods for analyzing DNA evidence. Professionals involved in the criminal justice system need additional training and assistance to solve these crimes.”