This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance the management of cold cases and unresolved missing persons cases. It introduces a new definition for "unresolved missing persons case," which refers to cases that remain unresolved one year after being opened. The West Virginia Fusion Center is tasked with developing a secure database that includes information on both cold cases and unresolved missing persons cases. Law enforcement agencies are required to provide necessary information for inclusion in this database, particularly for missing persons cases that are older than one year. Additionally, the bill mandates that law enforcement agencies maintain physical evidence and investigation files for cold cases until they are resolved.

Furthermore, the bill establishes a new section, 15-3D-10, which outlines the requirements for preserving records and evidence in unresolved missing persons cases. It stipulates that records and evidence for these cases must be retained permanently and cannot be destroyed. Law enforcement agencies are also required to digitize active and unresolved case files within one year of the case being opened, ensuring that all documentation and evidence are preserved in a secure digital format. All unresolved missing persons cases must be uploaded to the West Virginia Fusion Center after one year, thereby creating a comprehensive and accessible system for managing these critical investigations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15A-12-9, 15-3D-10