The National Case Closed Project logo

The National Case Closed Project

Supporting Evidence-Based Practices for Violent Crime Investigations


Overview

Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Case Closed Project is a new nationwide program designed to support law enforcement agencies in improving their violent crime clearance rates, with an emphasis on fatal and nonfatal shooting cases. The project team will partner with local law enforcement agencies to identify effective and sustainable practices related to agency operations, agency resources, investigator capabilities, and community relations. Technical assistance will be provided to partner agencies, and educational materials will be developed that law enforcement agencies across the nation can use to improve their violent crime clearance rates.

Bureau of Justice Assistance logo RTI International logo

Apply Now for Technical Assistance to Improve Violent Crime Clearance Rates

The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance and RTI International invite law enforcement agencies to apply to join BJA's National Case Closed Program. This nationwide effort supports law enforcement agencies in improving their violent crime clearance rates, especially in shooting cases.

The project partners with selected law enforcement agencies to increase clearance rates by identifying and implementing effective and sustainable practices related to agency operations, agency resources, investigator capabilities, and community relations. This free (federally funded) assistance is provided by practitioners and researchers who are national leaders in criminal investigation, evidence collection and crime scene processing, prosecution, victim advocacy, and forensic science. Click here to fill out an application form now.

Agencies selected to participate will receive:

  • An in-depth assessment to help improve fatal and nonfatal shooting clearance rates
    • Site visits
    • Personnel interviews
    • Analysis of policies and training materials
    • In-depth review of investigative case files
    • Examination of other agency data
  • Recommendations to address identified gaps
  • Ongoing technical assistance in implementing recommendations and tracking results
  • Input in a national program to help develop evidence-based standards and recommendations on the investigation and clearance of shooting cases

Current participants of the National Case Closed Project include the Greensboro (NC) Police Department, the Lansing (MI) Police Department, and the Columbia (SC) Police Department.

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I believe the recommendations and evaluations will assist the investigations division on showing the need for increased trainings and point out better practices. I hope it might, on our end, show others within our municipality the need for increases to training and technology budgets to assist the investigations division.

Captain Christopher Baldwin, Lansing Police Department

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The second round of applications for participation in the National Case Closed Project is now open! Click here to fill out an application form now. Applications for the second round should be submitted by Wednesday, March 20, 2023 for consideration.

For additional information, please email us at caseclosed@rti.org.

Event

BJA and RTI hosted a webinar to provide additional information on this project, with dedicated time to address any questions or concerns individuals have with responding to the application.

Click here to view the slides used during the webinar.

Expert Bios

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Funding Support

This project is supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-21-GK-04008-JAGP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Contact Information

For questions, e-mail the project team at RTI at caseclosed@rti.org.

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