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Law Enforcement’s Abysmal ‘Clearance’ Rates

Law Enforcement’s Abysmal ‘Clearance’ Rates
Police tape in a file photo. Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo
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Commentary

In Houston, a scandal recently broke when it became public that the police department had closed the investigation of over a quarter of a million crimes with a code indicating the case was being dropped for lack of manpower. The cases closed included thousands of murders and sexual assaults. The department did not inform victims or their families that the investigations had been closed. While the disclosure has roiled Houstonians, it should be of no surprise to anyone that law enforcement agencies generally do an abysmal job at solving crimes.

Bill King
Bill King
Author
Bill King is a businessman and lawyer, and is a former contributor at the Houston Chronicle. He has served as a city councilman and has a strong interest in a wide range of social, environmental, and political issues. King is the author of “Saving Face” and “Unapologetically Moderate.” He also publishes a newsletter and blog, BillKingBlog.com and serves as a fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute in Houston.