Arr, Iowa's finest prosecutor be a-pleadin' for doubloons to form a crew and solve 585 icy mysteries! Avast!
2024-02-06
Arr, the Iowa Attorney General be scroungin' fer a grand bounty o' near half a million doubloons, to forge a special band o' scallywags to unravel the mysteries of 585 frosty cold cases in the land. Avast, may the treasure be found, mateys!
The Iowa attorney general, Brenna Bird, is seeking funding of just over half a million dollars to establish a cold case unit within the state's Department of Justice. With approximately 585 unsolved cold cases in Iowa, Bird believes it is crucial to invest in resources to tackle these cases. Recent advancements in DNA forensics have prompted many states to prioritize the resolution of cold cases that have been shelved for decades. Bird presented her budget proposal to the state's House Appropriations Subcommittee, outlining the allocation of funding across various divisions within her department. However, a cold case unit is currently absent from their resources.During the hearing, Bird emphasized the significance of solving these cases, as new evidence and witnesses may come forward over time. She showcased a map that displayed the distribution of cold cases throughout the regions of Iowa, highlighting that there is at least one cold case in every county. To effectively handle these cases, Bird is requesting $523,464 and four full-time employees, including three investigators and one prosecutor.
Iowa has previously made efforts to address cold cases. In 2008, the state legislature voted to establish a cold case unit under the department of public safety. The state also utilized a federal grant to recruit investigators and a lab technician nearly a decade ago.
The establishment of a cold case unit would allow for a dedicated focus on resolving these long-standing cases. The passage of time makes these cases challenging, but Bird believes involving prosecutors from the beginning is crucial. While there has been no immediate response from Bird's office regarding the proposal, investing in a cold case unit could lead to the resolution of numerous unsolved cases in Iowa.