How long should FBI investigate? Is it worth the cost over the years?

@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
January 1, 2008 1:01pm CST
I've wondered this for years. The FBI investigates crimes until they are solved. Okay, fine, but how long should they spend investigating a crime, before it should just be closed as "unsolved" and move on in life and utilize the time, money and energy to more current cases that have a better chance of being solved. I hear about J.D. Cooper and his stealing money and then hijacking a small plane and junping and was never found. That was in 1971. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080101/ap_on_re_us/looking_for_cooper 37 years ago and they are still "investigating". Good chance that many that were alive back then are no longer around for one reason or another. It's been 37 years, life has moved on. I don't believe in letting crimes and criminals go unpunished, but at the same time, there are so many current cases that have a better chance of being solved than ones so old, no one even knows who they are anymore, muchless what they did, so why not just chalk it up to experience and knowledge and work on cases more prolific with a better chance of solving and restitution. Even if they do catch JD - so what? He's so old now, we'll just support him in prison the rest of his life. They don't even know if he is alive - they could be searching for a dead body! And if they find the dead body - so what? No one is going to get their money back, big deal if the crime is solved - all you got to show for it is a dead body and 37 years of expense. What's the point? What do you think? Should there be a limit as to how long FBI investigates a crime? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080101/ap_on_re_us/looking_for_cooper
4 responses
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
1 Jan 08
Well I guess we have to give them points for perseverance :) I can understand you concern about the cost, it makes sense but I suppose this is the part that makes FBI what is is. I don't know, in my opinion you make sense regarding cost and manpower to finally catch a 90 year old criminal, but maybe at the same time it's good, so he will never be at ease for the rest of his life.
• United States
1 Jan 08
If they did drop it people would complain about that too. The families of the victims and such. That is the thing with any kind of law enforcement. You cant win. No matter what they do someone is going to be unhappy about it.
2 people like this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
1 Jan 08
Yes, with certain things we really can't win. And you made some very good points in your post, I enjoyed reading it.
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Jan 08
They like I said only open those kinds of files in case they find new information I believe. Most of the manpower is in the more recent crimes. I am a criminal justice student so i have to study these kinds of things all the time. It is crazy.
1 person likes this
@babykeka80 (2084)
• United States
1 Jan 08
From what I understand they basically only pull these files and look into them after a certain period of time if they think they may have a new lead. Also, sometimes older crimes hold important evidence that could solve more than one either recent or older crime. If the FBI is investigating then there is a good chance that whatever it is was or still is a pretty big deal. The FBI does not just get involved because they want to. That particular case you are talking about may not be important but think about it...they are also still investigating the zodiac murders. All too often it is for the families benefit or a certain lead could help put another murder case in the solved pile.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
1 Jan 08
Murder cases are different. But I have never heard of a many year old case being solved. I was just wondering what everyone thought about it. And alot of times they use what we know now to solve a crime "back then" and you can't do that. To many factors change with the times and you "can't go back". You can't change history.
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
13 May 08
I don't think there should be a limit...after all crime is crime and those responsible need to be made to face the consequences of their actions. At the same time, your right in that there are alot of crimes today that need solving. Most agencies like the FBI have special agents that that only work on old cases. Other agents work on current cases, some work on high profile cases and some only on child cases. It's very organized so that all the crimes get covered not just certain ones. Also you may be right that the money may be long gone...then again it could be sitting in a safety deposit box safe and sound. A relative may have gotten it or it may have been used to buy land, homes or other items. After all, I doubt he just pittered it away. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
• Kottayam, India
2 Jan 08
some kind of a investigating agency we needed.
1 person likes this