Modeling Homicide Investigations: Does a Difference Make a Difference

• In Event: Assessing Outcomes and Performance in Criminal Investigations

Abstract

This paper examines differing approaches to modeling police clearances for homicide. The literature is replete with results from analytical strategies such as logistic regression and survival models examining either dichotomous clearance outcomes or time to clearance. In this effort, we employ a conjunctive analysis approach in an effort to determine whether changing from a variable-focused to a case-focused approach sheds new light on the contextual variability in investigation outcomes. Comparisons and contrasts of the results yield answers as to whether methodological and statistical differences yield differing results.

Authors

• Ashley Mancik, University of Delaware

• John P. Jarvis, Federal Bureau of Investigation

• Wendy Regoeczi, Cleveland State University Ohio