FAQ About Cold Cases and Breakthroughs

Cold cases are typically defined as criminal cases that have remained unsolved and inactive for an extended period of time. The specific criteria for classifying a case as a cold case can vary among jurisdictions, but there are some common characteristics used to define them:

• Age of the case: There is no universally agreed-upon time frame, but a case usually needs to be inactive for a significant period, often years, to be considered a cold case.
• Exhausted leads: Cold cases are often characterized by a lack of viable leads and the absence of new information or evidence that could lead to the identification and apprehension of a suspect.
• Inactivity: Cold cases have typically been set aside or placed on hold by law enforcement agencies due to resource constraints, shifts in investigative priorities, or a lack of available leads.
• Original investigation status: Cold cases are cases that have been previously investigated but have not resulted in an arrest or conviction.