AMBER Advocate › Topics › Long-Term Missing Cases › Long-Term Missing Cold Case Programs › Reply To: Long-Term Missing Cold Case Programs
Hi Cindy. PA State Police has a Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit (CIA) which handles both homicide and missing person cases (thought to be suspicious or criminal in nature), many of them cold cases. This unit was developed in 1988 under the model of the FBI’s Behavioral Assessment Unit. There is one full-time and at least one part-time unit member in each of our Troops across the state who investigate these case, as well as three full time administrative unit members who are based in PSP headquarters (two enlisted and one civilian behavior analyst) The administrative unit members are tasked with the AMBER Alert program, Missing Endangered Person Alert program, as well as the State Missing Person Clearinghouse duties, in addition to overseeing the CIA field members and assisting in those cases. Our department has found that having the behavioral analysis component of our unit involved in the child abduction investigations and long term missing cases is extremely helpful. I would be happy to discuss our unit’s model and activities in further detail if you would like. My email address is [email protected].