Multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of all Ventura County law enforcement agencies to coordinate and conduct review of a minimum of 50 cold violent crime and homicide cases for presence of DNA

The purpose of these funds will be used to establish an interagency DNA Cold Case Task Force to use PCR-STR DNA analysis to solve cold homicide cases. The County of Ventura will (1) retain one veteran homicide investigator and two veteran homicide detectives, each with significant experience in DNA evidence collection and analysis, to serve as the core of a DNA/Cold Cases Unit, (2) retain one DNA Task Force Liaison from every local law enforcement agency in Ventura County, to participate in a Ventura County DNA/Cold Cases Task Force, (3) receive up to 5 prescreened unsolved homicide cases that occurred between 1970 and 1998 from every local law enforcement agency in Ventura County for referral to the DNA Cold Cases Task Force via placement on the Task Force's Cold Case List, (4) provide intensive case review, updated witness assessment and PCR-STR DNA analysis of appropriate evidence in up to 35 unsolved homicide cases placed on the Task Force's Cold Cases List, and (5) solve and successfully prosecute the perpetrator of at least one unsolved homicide case on the Task Force's Cold Cases List. ca/ncf