13-4271. Cold case register; law enforcement agencies; definition

325 words·~1 min read·/az/title-13/13-4271

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

A. A law enforcement agency that has a cold case shall establish and maintain a cold case register. The cold case register shall consist of the names of any victim, victim's family member or other lawful representative of a victim of a cold case who requests that the person's name be included in the cold case register.

B. A law enforcement agency that maintains a cold case register shall:

1. Provide notice of the law enforcement agency's cold case register to any victim, victim's family member or other lawful representative of a victim of a cold case.

2. Provide cold case registrants with the following:

(a)The contact information for the law enforcement agency.

(b)In a timely manner, information on any new developments or reviews of the cold case.

3. Encourage registrants to contact the law enforcement agency if the registrant is aware of any new information related to the cold case.

C. The name of a victim, a victim's family member or any other lawful representative of a victim shall remain in the register for three years. The law enforcement agency shall make reasonable efforts to provide notice to the registrant of the end of the three year period. On request, the law enforcement agency shall extend the person's registration for an additional three years.

D. A law enforcement agency shall give priority to any cold case that is associated with a name in the cold case register unless there is a compelling reason to give priority to a cold case that is not associated with a name in the cold case register.

E. The cold case register is not a public record and is exempt from title 39, chapter 1.

F. For the purposes of this section, "cold case" means a homicide or a felony sexual offense that remains unsolved for one year or more after being reported to a law enforcement agency and that has no viable and unexplored investigatory leads.