FY 2019 Prosecuting Cold Cases using DNA and Other Forensic Technologies

This project will fund an Assistant State’s Attorney dedicated to conducting investigations and prosecutions by clearing unsolved cold homicides and prosecuting suspects who have been identified through DNA. Investigations will be assigned to the Assistant State’s Attorney that meet the following criteria: the case is a homicide; there is an identified suspect(s); the suspect(s) was identified through DNA evidence; and three years have passed since the homicide. There will be a collaborative effort with law enforcement partners on an investigation that meets the criteria.
Investigative strategies and gathering of evidence will have the end goal of closing the unsolved case with arrest and prosecution where appropriate. Criteria cases will be entered into ViCAP to increase chances of identifying and apprehending violent serial offenders. Collaboration with the Illinois State Police Crime Laboratory will aid and provide guidance on analytical feasibility as needed. The laboratory will upload and search any appropriate DNA profiles in the CODIS database.

CA/NCF