There is considerable concern, in this community, about serious violent crimes such as homicide, and rightfully so, but little attention is paid to the ability of the police to solve these crimes. Many believe there are magical formulas for solving homicides; in fact, it is widely believed that most crimes can be solved by using a television inspired methods resulting in solving crimes within an hour’s time not including commercials. In reality these formulas do not exist. The criteria that govern solving crimes are known as Solvability Factors. Almost every police organization that has full time investigators uses a version of this system to assign cases.

Solvability Factor is defined as having certain basic facts that are known, (such as the suspect’s name or nickname, suspect’s vehicle information, the individuals’ associates, witnesses, or a valuable piece of physical evidence) that can lead investigator on a clear path to resolve the case. Without a distinct degree of lead information, the case or cases have almost no potential of being solved.

In FY 2005 our homicide rates increased 52% over FY 2004. That increase was in part due to a lack of police resources and the decrease in the likelihood of by- standers and witnesses to provide information, particularly in the urban areas where a large proportion of these cases occurred.

The overall success rate in solving crimes hinges on the key that determines the overall success rate in solving crimes: the Preliminary Investigation. The most important aspect of crime solving is the Investigation where the police’s focus is on the apprehension of the criminals through the gathering of evidence leading to the arrest. This includes the collection and presentation of evidence as well as obtaining testimony for the purpose of obtaining a conviction. This is a two part process: the preliminary investigation (uniformed officers) and the follow-up investigation by a well-trained investigator in the Department.

Other factors in this important process are: Internal Organization-overtime, cooperation, support staff and intelligence analysis. Crime Scene-securing and processing the crime scene properly. Witnesses- the actual presence of witnesses that are willing to come forward and provide information and the use of Technology- telephone intercepts, listening devices, and polygraphs.

While researching information for this article, I came across a twelve-point solvability factor determined and defined by the Rochester, New York Police Department, which must be present in order for the case to be solved. Having spent at least nine years of my police career as a homicide detective, I agree completely with the 12 points which are as follows:

Witnesses to the crime; knowledge of the suspect’s name; knowledge of where the suspect can be located; description of suspect; identification of suspect; property with traceable, identifiable characteristics, marks or numbers; existence of a significant method of operation; presence of significant physical evidence; description of the suspect’s vehicle; positive results from a crime scene evidence search; belief that crime may be solved with publicity and/or reasonable additional investigative effort, and possibility and/or opportunity for anyone, other than the suspect, to have committed the crime.

Earning and keeping the community’s trust is an on-going challenge for the Virgin Islands Police Department. The Department continues to strive to win this trust so that people will willingly come forward with pertinent information that will help us solve cases. Without the community’s trust and its assistance, the number of unsolved cases will continue to mount while detectives meticulously gather evidence, which takes a long time.

People of the community providing information to the crime tip lines need not give their personal information in order to be taken seriously and to be considered. On behalf of the men and women of the police department, I thank all citizens who have come forward with information, however little, regarding criminal activities.

It is my hope that this article will give a greater understanding of the solvability factors involved in criminal investigations. Help us to help you.