homicide

In July of 2020, NCVC conducted a gap analysis to help the Cleveland Homicide Review Commission and its Service Provider Review Team improve the services
provided to victims and witnesses throughout (and beyond) homicide cases. In January 2021, NCVC met with The Northern District of Ohio’s (OH-N) Homicide Commission Review team to discuss the developed brief of relocation services and upcoming OH-N-focused TTA sessions. This support lasted for 60 minutes and included 13 individuals from the Homicide Commission Review team and local Cleveland service providers.

NCVC conducted a gaps analysis of OH-N’s service response to victims and witnesses in homicide cases in June and July with the assistance of Dr. Meagan Call-Cummings, and research and evaluation specialist from George Mason University. NCVC sent questionnaires to 51 Cleveland-area service providers and received nine responses. Dr. Call-Cummings conducted nine virtual service provider interviews, and NCVC conducted two interviews with victims/witnesses of homicide cases.

In the early 1980s, the LAPD developed a homicide investigation case file structure, entitled the Murder Book, to bring organization and standardization to homicide case files. The uniform structure of the Murder Book allows anyone involved in a homicide investigation, including detectives, supervisors, and prosecutors, to review and locate key investigative reports, photos, and other materials in a standardized manner. As a result
of utilizing the Murder Book, LAPD homicide detectives are able to more effectively manage their investigative caseload.

The goal of the roundtable is to identify collaborative efforts that can help reduce violent crime and improve the capacity of prosecutors and law enforcement to hold offenders accountable. Attendees will also identify the steps necessary to replicate these efforts and discuss strategies to measure and evaluate their effectiveness. It is anticipated that the roundtable will include representatives from approximately twelve jurisdictions from across the nation.

Site Visit 1: April 14-16, 2015
PERF assessment teams (comprised of two PERF staff members and three SMEs) conducted a site visit to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police on April 14-16, 2015. Prior to the site visit, PERF worked with Pittsburgh PD to establish people to interview, and to identify policies and other directives, reports, and data on the homicide response, the homicide unit, the investigative process, and related subjects that can be reviewed beforehand.

Site visit to conduct interviews with Gary community members.

Site visit to conduct interviews with GPD representatives and representatives from forensic service providers, regional task forces, and prosecutors’ offices.